The sea is full of spooky creatures, with the deep, dark depths showcasing some of the most eye-catching creatures on the planet from goblin sharks to anglerfish.
Today, though, we’re going to take a look at animals that might not look so creepy, but they certainly have spooky names straight from a horror movie!
This Halloween, why not pop down to Blue Reef Aquarium Portsmouth to see if you can spot any more spookily-named creatures swimming through the exhibits in our aquarium?
Here are our picks for the spooky creatures found in our oceans.
Halloween hermit crab
Kicking off our list, we have the Halloween hermit crab (Ciliopagurus strigatus), named for its orange and red striped legs that exemplify Halloween festivities.
This crab-relative is native to the Indo-Pacific region of the world, choosing to make its home in shallow, tropical, coastal waters, in sandy areas and along coral substrates where they feed on detritus and algae.
As with other hermit crabs, Halloween hermit crabs use discarded shells to protect their soft bodies from predators.
Clown loach
The clown loach (Chromobotia macracanthus) is the first fish in this list that you can find in our aquarium. This bright orange and black striped fish is popular in the home aquarium hobby because of their relatively placid and social nature, as well as its strikingly beautiful colours.
Clown loaches originate from the island waters of Indonesia, where they form social groups that they swim around with.
This striking fish can be found in the Tropical Treasures Exhibit here at Blue Reef Aquarium Portsmouth.
Vampire crab
This crab is Dracula’s favourite sea creature, sharing its name with the blood-sucking creature of Bram Stoker’s novel.
Despite being called a vampire crab (Geosesarma dennerle), it doesn’t actually drink blood. The name comes from its striking yellow eyes and the fact that it is usually only seen during twilight hours.
These semi-aquatic crabs are found around the Indo-Pacific region where they feed on a range of things from bloodworms to debris and algae.
You can see the Vampire crab at the Freshwater Fun exhibit.
Ghost cardinal
Named for its translucent nature, the ghost cardinal (Apogon leptacanthus) is a spooky-looking fish that matches its creepy name.
Another Indo-Pacific native, this fish can grow up to 6cm and enjoys a diet of tiny shrimp.
Interestingly, this fish is known to mouth brood. Mouthbrooding is when one of the parental fish will keep eggs in their mouths until they’re ready to hatch which helps to keep them safe during gestation.
You can see this fish in our Tropical Treasures Exhibit.
Goblin shark
This fish is possibly the scariest fish on the list! Not only is it a shark, but goblins are known for their evil and mischievous antics usually during darkness!
The goblin shark (Mitsukurina owstoni) is a pre-historic deep sea creature and food can be scarce down there, so they will eat almost any fish or crustacean they come across in the ocean.
Not only is their elongated snout scary, but they may also be the inspiration for the Xenomorph in Alien with their ability to project their jaw outwards to catch prey, giving them an even spookier aura!
Orbicular batfish
The orbicular batfish (Platax orbicularis) is a round, flattened fish native to Indo-Pacific waters. They’re easily identified by the humps on their forehead once they reach adulthood. The juvenile fish do not have this hump and are also considerably more elongated.
You might be wondering where a batfish gets its name from and you wouldn’t be surprised to know that it’s from our favourite flying mammal, the bat. But it’s not because of its resemblance to a bat’s appearance, but rather the similarities between the way a bat walks on its elbows and a batfish swims.
The orbicular batfish can be found swimming around our Tropical Treasures exhibit.
Vampire squid
A terrifying deep-sea creature, the vampire squid (Vampyroteuthis infernalis) doesn’t just have a spooky common name, even its scientific name translates to vampire squid from hell!
It’s worth noting though, that this “squid” isn’t a squid at all, actually belonging to the Mollusca phylum alongside cuttlefish and scallops.
The vampire squid uses two extending tentacles that can reach up to eight times the length of its body to navigate the depths of the ocean alongside its incredibly large eyes.
Clownfish
Probably the most famous fish on this list, being the starring character of a hit Pixar film, this fish is named for its vibrant colours that look a bit like a clown’s make-up.
There are many species of clownfish (Amphiprion occelaris) throughout the world’s oceans, some of which can be found at Blue Reef Aquarium Portsmouth.
Clownfish are usually found in the warm waters of the Indo-Pacific region where they make their homes in anemones, using them as valuable protection from predators.
Black widow tetra
This black and silver striped fish is known for its black dorsal and anal fins that make it an incredibly popular fish in the aquarium hobby.
Although it takes the name of a deadly spider, black widow tetras (Gymnocorymbus ternetziare) peaceful schooling fish that only grows to the size of about 6cm.
In the wild, they’re native to the rivers of South America including Paraguay, Brazil and Argentina.
That concludes our list of spooky fish, hopefully it gets you in the mood for the Halloween season! If you’d like to be truly creeped out, or amazed, by these fascinating fish then head down to Blue Reef Aquarium Portsmouth by booking your tickets now!