From a sea creature that dragged a scientist deep underwater to an 80-mile-per-hour fish
with a razor sharp nose, today we look at the Most DANGEROUS Ocean Predators.
Number 10.
Sea Lions Sea Lions are a family of eared seals native
to subarctic and tropical waters around the world.
Within their different species, sea lions can reach sizes ranging from 220 pounds to
2,200 pounds, with a variation in length from six to ten feet.
Known for excellent intelligence, sea lions have been able to learn behaviors in captivity.
This however doesn’t mean they’re all friendly.
Sea lion attacks have occurred along the California coast, and elsewhere, as the marine mammal
has a tendency to show extreme aggression and territorial behavior.
This shows in their breeding season, as many sea lions occasionally brutalize and maim
one another in the heat of competition.
Number 9.
Lionfish As boisterous as it is deadly, the Lionfish
is well-known as one of the most dangerous fish in the sea.
With a bright display of warning coloration, similar to that of a coral snake with deep
reds, creamy whites, and black bands, this fish sticks out among the ocean landscape.
It's venomous spiked fins give it an almost bony appearance as the sheer number of spines
coalesce to form a mane-like layer surrounding the fish.
Though not nearly large enough to prey on humans, the Lionfish is known for being an
extreme hazard to fisherman and divers alike thanks to its pain, nausea, and paralysis-inducing
venom.
Number 8.
Barracuda Though varied across 20 different species,
one feature remains constant: the barracuda attacks with slender speed like a knife through
the sea.
Though swift and narrow, barracudas range in size from a few dozen centimeters to 6
feet in length.
These ferocious predators are diligent in their attacks, lining up the perfect angle
before bursting forth with a velocity of up to 27 miles per hour to strike their prey.
A natural scavenger, the barracuda has been known to mistake humans for predators and
may stalk them in hopes of feasting once another element can chop them down a peg or two.
They have also been known to be attracted to items that glint and shine, mistaking them
for the scales of prey.
Truly vicious carnivores, barracudas are best left avoided.
Touching, hand-feeding, or even spearfishing near barracudas is highly advised against,
as the savage manner in which it attacks prey is not worth the risk.
But for all its primal scrappiness, even the barracuda becomes prey at some point.
Most often eaten as fillets or steaks, barracudas serve as a popular food and game fish around
the world.
Number 7.
Leopard Seals Named after the large, terrestrial, and predatory
felines, the Leopard Seal is one of the most dangerous seals in the world.
Known to roam the antarctic, the leopard seal ranks second behind the orca as the top predator
in the region.
The leopard seal sports a jaw proportionally huge for its body.
This allows it to crush and eat prey of varying sizes, from fish and squid to a variety of
penguins to even other seals.
Leopard seals can reach sizes ranging from 440 pounds to 1,320 pounds, with a variation
in length from 7 to 11 feet.
This monstrous mammal, in addition to having a powerful jaw and predatory habits similar
to its big cat counterpart, also produces a distinctive roar, only bolstering the predator's
fearsome reputation.
Although reported attacks on humans are extremely rare, in 2003 a leopard seal took 28 year
old Kirsty Brown, a biologist snorkeling off the coast of an Antarctic island, underwater,
an event she did not survive.
Number 6.
Rays Distant relatives of the shark, the cartilaginous
[kar-tih-la-jih-nes] creatures known as rays are most popular for their bat-like wings
and flat bodies.
Less well-known, however, are their natural defense mechanisms which tend to be just dangerous
as they are strange.
One of the most dangerous rays is the stingray.
With a wide variation of species across eight families, stingrays come in all shapes and
sizes.
The stingray, however, despite its different species variations is universally characterized
by venomous, skin-covered spines protruding from their tail.
This venom requires little energy to generate and store within the tissue cells and is known
to cause profuse and fatal wounds when afflicting humans.
Yet, despite their incredibly dangerous potential, humans often interact and swim with stingrays
in nature preserves and sea animal displays.
Another dangerous ray is the electric ray.
More round than it's stinging relative, the electric ray is known for its propensity to
stiffen and paralyze unsuspecting and potentially harmful opponents.
With the ability to generate an electric discharge of up to 220 volts, the ray typically relies
on this mechanism for stunning prey in addition to self-defense.
Throughout history, the electric ray, or torpedo fish, would become a mainstay of premodern
medicine where doctors and physicians would prescribe the supposed magical creature to
cure headaches and gout.
Number 5.
Humboldt Squid Named the Diablo Rojo, or the Red Devil, by
Central American fishermen, the Humboldt squid is known for its highly aggressive nature.
With an average mantle size of almost 5 feet and a potential for up to eight feet or more,
this jumbo squid can thrust itself toward victims like a crimson submarine reaching
speeds of up to 15 miles per hour.
In a flurry of red and white, the Humboldt squid flashes with bioluminescence during
its hunt, earning its Diablo Rojo namesake.
Smaller tentacles extend from the squid and surround its sharp central beak, each of which
bears rows with hundreds of razor-tooth-lined suckers.
When feeding, the Humboldt Squid has been observed going into a frenzy with its aggression
reaching a point to where cannibalism is unavoidable.
Recent findings suggest this type of squid really only exhibits this extreme aggression
when feeding, and outside of this environment have shown glimpses of curious and intelligent
behavior similar to an octopus.
So if you decide to swim with the Red Devil, make sure to feed it first!
Number 4.
Atlantic Blue Marlin While more oft than not used in media as the
quintessential trophy fish, the Atlantic Blue Marlin is one of the top marine hunters known
to man.
Reaching sizes of more than 1,900 pounds and measuring at up to 14 feet, it's no wonder
this fish plays both the roles of a large hunter and large prey.
This bluewater fish preys on a variety of aquatic life, using its large needle-like
nose to stun and spear schools of fish ranging from small mackerel to 100 pound tuna.
In addition to an imposing size and natural piercing tool, the blue marlin features another
highly-effective weapon: incredible speed.
The marlin can reach speeds of up to 80 miles per hour as it speeds through the waters surrounding
the Bahamas, making it one of the fastest fish in the sea.
But a high fat content, large mass, and incredible challenge to catch made the Atlantic blue
marlin one of the most sought-after fish in the world.
Much like many others on this list, this sea predator is considered a threatened species
due to overfishing.
Number 3.
Polar Bears Though technically a land mammal, the Polar
Bear is one of the most terrifying predators among the Arctic Ocean.
Living across the Arctic Circle, this vulnerable species of bear spends a majority of their
time on the sea ice hunting for seals.
This has earned the predator the nickname "maritime bear," as it relies on the ability
to prowl sea ice to survive.
With weights reaching up to 1,500 pounds or more and lengths nearing 8 feet, adult polar
bears are massive creatures capable of utter devastation.
This size serves a dual purpose as its extra fat reserves serve as a nutritional basin
for months in which sea ice isn't present.
Thanks to its excellent sense of smell, polar bears are known to be able to detect seals
nearly one mile away under up to three feet of snow.
Luckily for humans, this excellent ability to detect is almost never used toward people.
For the most part, polar bears rarely attack humans unless provoked or starving.
The majority of all polar bear attacks, though, have been reported as fatal since unlike their
brown brethren, polar bears are stealth hunters.
Once a hunt is underway, it is very difficult for prey to discern polar bears from their
native environment.
Even infrared cameras fail to pick up polar bear heat signatures thanks to their dense,
insular fur coats.
Though a dominant beast built to survive an extreme environment, the polar bear is another
creature on this list that currently faces endangerment, this time due to climate change.
As sea ice becomes rarer and rarer, the ability for polar bears to feed on their primary food
source becomes more difficult.
Which means any nearby humans are probably looking mighty tasty by now...
Number 2.
Great White Shark With its iconic soulless, black stare and
endless rows of jagged teeth, the great white shark is one of the most feared creatures
in the ocean.
Growing up to 15 feet in length on average, the great white shark is the world's largest
predator among fish.
Their torpedo-shaped, gray and white bodies are quintessentially designed for high-speed
ambushes and even vaults above the water's surface.
The great white hunts like a machine built for carnage as its highly developed sense
of smell, serrated rows of regenerating teeth, and electromagnetic field-sensing organs make
it perfect for tracking prey.
Living primarily off of small-toothed sea mammals, some of these sharks have even been
known to eat sea turtles and carrion!
While meant to scare as entertainment, Jaws isn't too far off when it comes to the great
white shark.
Out of the annual 100 or more shark attacks worldwide, one third to one half can be attributed
to the great white.
However, many if not most attacks reported are what scientists refer to as "sample biting,"
where the great white's natural curiosity causes the shark to release victims after
the initial clench.
It may be a bit unsettling to act as a taste test for these creatures, however researchers
believe this is a good indication that humans are not a preferable taste for the species.
Though they do sit at the top of the fish food chain, scientists say the population
of the great white shark is vulnerable due to overfishing and other human-caused issues.
Number 1.
Orca As the largest of the dolphin family the orca,
or aptly-named killer whale, is one of the most dominating sea predators in the world.
With teeth up to four inches in length, these cold-water hunters feast on creatures as large
as seals, sea lions, and sometimes even whales.
Prowling the frigid waters in groups of up to 40, these hunting packs or pods as they're
known use intelligent hunting techniques to down their prey.
Like wolves of the sea, orcas draw strength from cooperation in the pursuit of prey.
And with a typical weight of up to six tons...that's a whole lot of prey to hunt per pod.
Though fiction and media portrayals have given the orca a rather friendly demeanor in the
mainstream, these sea mammals are truly carnivorous hunters and earn the title of killer whale.