Believe it or not, there are some seriously weird ocean creatures out there. From the deep sea to the shallows, one of these ten facts will surely leave you surprised. So without further ado, here are the ten weirdest facts about ocean creatures that you didn’t think you needed to know. Prepare to be blown away!

There is a species of jellyfish that can live forever.

Who said living forever wasn’t possible? Well, it’s not for us humans… yet! But there is a species of jellyfish that already possess this ability. This fascinating species known as Turritopsis dohrnii has the remarkable ability to return to its juvenile (polyp) stage once it reaches maturity and thereby avoid death. With this amazing superpower, scientists estimate that these immortal jellyfish could potentially live forever! Truly remarkable and the perfect example of how the ocean never fails to surprise us.

Some ocean creatures can change their gender.

Believe it or not, some species of fish have a special adaptation that allows them to spontaneously change their gender! This phenomenon is called sequential hermaphroditism, allowing the fish to switch from male to female to obtain reproductive success. Some species can even do the reverse—specializing in producing eggs as a female, then switching over to being a male so they can fertilize the eggs with sperm later on. Amazingly, this process occurs naturally and does not take long for them to transition between genders.

Some ocean creatures can walk on land.

Did you know that some creatures living in the ocean can actually walk on land? From starfish to sea cucumbers, these animals use their strong muscle and tube feet to get around on dry surfaces. Combined with the flaps they have to keep water in while walking, they can escape the ocean depths and explore the world outside. While it may not be the most graceful sight to see an octopus awkwardly slithering onto shore, adaptations like this make these creatures so fascinating.

There are fish that can fly.

Did you know that there are actually fish out there that can fly? Well, believe it or not, it is true! Flying fish are fascinating creatures. They use their fins to glide above water for astonishing distances of up to 660 feet. Many species also have enlarged pectoral fins that help them take off from the ocean’s surface, like giant underwater hummingbirds. Underwater predators often have trouble catching these speedy aerialists, as they can reach speeds of up to 30 mph! So next time you head out to beaches or an aquarium, keep your eyes peeled, and you may get the chance to spot these fascinatingly bizarre fish in action!

Some ocean creatures are transparent.

From mesmerizing jellyfish to miniature shrimps, some ocean creatures are so transparent that you’d almost forget they exist. From a scientific perspective, the reason for this transparency lies in their need to be stealthy predators, allowing them to camouflage from predators and unsuspecting prey alike. In addition, some of these organisms undergo an adaptation process known as counter-illumination, which helps them to blend in with oceanic light for even more effective camouflage. Interestingly enough, when transparent ocean animals enter deep-sea environments devoid of sunlight, their ability to take on the same color as their surroundings become obsolete. They may start glowing to make themselves visible or attract partners. Now that’s a beautiful sight indeed!

There are creatures in the ocean that can glow in the dark.

Did you know that some creatures living deep in the ocean actually glow in the dark? It’s true! To find food or a mate, many species living in very deep parts of the sea use bioluminescence to produce light and catch prey within their ecosystem. Whether it be from intense pressure levels which cause an animal to produce its own light source or bio-synthetic properties, these creatures can create amazing shows of light underwater and even have unique properties such as changing their pattern or color. Who knew there was so much fun and beauty down below?

Oyster pearls dissolve in vinegar.

In the depths of our oceans, mysteries abound; but one of the most fascinating ones is the process by which pearls are formed. You might assume that pearls, those beautiful and hard sea gems, could last forever. But the truth is quite strange – Oyster pearls can actually dissolve in vinegar! After an irritant such as a grain of sand makes its way inside an oyster’s shell, it secretes a substance to surround it, piece by piece, forming a pearl. As amazing as this process is, pearls don’t last forever as you might expect – they actually dissolve in vinegar over time due to their calcium carbonate arrangement mixing with acidity from the vinegar. What once was thought to be eternally glamorous becomes nothing more than a pool of mucus-like oyster ooze!

There are ocean creatures that eat stone.

The marine world is full of oddities and surprises, one of these being certain ocean-dwelling creatures that feed on stones. Have you heard of the geoduck? Found beneath the waves of the Northeastern Pacific, this large mollusk scrapes away at piles of sediment, looking for its favorite meal, namely calcium carbonates. But why stones? It’s due to its amazing gills, which are coated with a slimy substance that makes stones easier to digest. For another interesting creature, how about starfish? These strange ocean organisms actually incorporate pieces of rock into their diet, can break apart and reattach their own body parts (yes, you read that correctly!), and even uptake oxygen through their arms rather than gills or lungs! Fascinating!

There are crab species that don’t breathe oxygen.

Did you know that while many of us think of crabs as creatures that need oxygen to survive, there are actually some species that don’t require it? Known as anaerobic crabs, these crustaceans rely on bacteria and other sources found in the depths of our oceans to get the energy they need to live. They may look like their oxy-breathing cousins but are, in fact, quite different! Though it still remains a mystery as to why some crab species have evolved this way, one thing is for sure – the ocean will always hold interesting surprises!

There are fish that live in volcanoes.

Did you know that there are species of fish out there that survive in volcanically active areas? It’s astonishing, but a select few species have adapted to living in extreme temperatures and have even evolved to become resistant enough to withstand the lava that spews forth from deep within the ocean. Not only do these fish thrive in the hot environment, but they’ve also been known to locate food around active thermal vents and feed off of the life and energy generated by volcanic activity.

Conclusion

There you have it: ten facts about ocean creatures you didn’t think you needed to know that you can now share with your friends over dinner. Looking for a place to make that happen? At SEA Crab House, we offer seafood boils that make for delicious and entertaining eating, so bring the people most important to you for a feast where you can break bread – and crab – together. See you soon! Make a reservation today!