MONSTERS OF THE DEEP
Splash! A daring deep-sea diver ventures from the sunlit surface waters down through the darkened ocean depths. The quest: to find a long-lost chest of buried treasure. The diver descends even farther, searching for a glint of gold, but is unaware of the fate that awaits...for there in the waters lurks a gruesome gang of hideous undersea creatures. Dive in!
Viperfish
I could scare that diver right out of his suit with my fearsome fangs. Maybe I’ll swim straight into him as fast as I can, impaling his flesh on my terrible teeth. My hinged jaws enable me to swallow large prey whole...but something his size may be out of my depth.
Ocean Sunfish
Face it, I’m freaky. I look like a huge flattened fish head with a tail stuck onto it. I tip the scales at 2,200 lb (1000 kg), and I’m as long as an adult human. As I often roam near the ocean’s surface, that diver might get an early fright on the way down - but don’t panic, I mostly eat jellyfish.
Sperm Whale
When that diver gets a look at all 60 ft (20 m) and 55 tons (50 tonnes) of me, he’s so gonna blubber. I can eat a ton (tonne) of fish and squids a day and still have room for dessert. Lucky for him, I don’t have a taste for humans, although I may accidentally capsize boats that get in the way of my enormous tail.
Chimera Fish
Emeralds glinting from a treasure chest? Afraid not, sucker. You’re looking at my oversize catlike eyes. Slippery skin covers my body, tapering to a ratlike tail. My dental plates are strong enough to munch on clams and crabs, shells and all, so keep your hands to yourself if you don’t want to lose those fingers!
Dana Octopus Squid
Hey, diver! I may be shining like gold, but I’m not what you’re seeking. I have a pair of lemon-size light-making organs called photophores on the ends of two arms. I can flash them on and off, making blindingly bright light to stun and disorient my prey.
Megamouth Shark
A close encounter with me would make that diver’s jaw drop—mine already did. The sight of my huge mouth and head is awesomely scary, but the real reason I’m opening wide is to filter food as I propel my bulky body through the ocean depths.
Fangtooth Fish
Not far now, diver, but you need to get past me first. I may be little, but my mouth is stuffed with teeth. In proportion to my body, I have the biggest teeth of any fish. They don’t even fit in my mouth, so pockets in the roof of my mouth fit the fangs on my lower jaw when it closes.
Sea Lamprey
I have big reddish eyes and a mouth filled with a spiral of sharp teeth and a rasplike tongue. I’m a parasite, so I latch my mouth onto prey and stay there for days or even weeks, feeding on their blood and bodily fluids. You, diver, had better hope that I don’t become too attached to you.
