Sea creatures that can ruin you beach trip

There's a creature somewhere deep in the ocean, looking for prey that would make Dracula himself proud. It's been around since before even the dinosaurs walked the earth. It has no bones or jaw, but it doesn't stop this underwater vampire from hunting. The name of this eel-like parasite is the Pacific Lamp Ray.

The English Monarch loved this fish so much that he defied the doctor's orders to stop eating Lampe flesh. He got sick every time he'd have the original gooey fish, but the lack of bones and the fact that this Lampe tastes like a slow-cooked beef steak made the Royal fall in love with the fish once and for all. The product of this love was a chill in his aged body, some heavy sweating, and some other scary symptoms, which eventually took his life and interrupted his 35-year reign.

The lamp Ray is way better at surviving, as it lived through at least four mass extinctions. Its ancient ancestors evolved over 450 million years ago. There are around 40 living species of lamp Rays still thriving across the world. The Pacific Lamp Ray is just one of them. These creatures have cartilage instead of bones and a third eye, which is a special light-sensing organ on top of their heads. Instead of a regular jaw, they have a suckermouth surrounded by teeth, perfect for latching onto prey and sipping up body fluids like underwater vampires.

Once they pick a victim, they suction it, making a seal that's almost impossible to break. Scientists believe the Pacific Lamp Rays don't munch on flesh. Female lamp rays lay up to 200,000 eggs in nests that stay in fresh water for 3 to 4 weeks. Once the larvae hatch, they burrow into sediment and stay under the sand for up to a decade. When they hit their teenage years, these miniature Draculas reemerge and migrate from freshwater to the Pacific Ocean.

This journey isn't the easiest, and it takes some changes to its appearance and physiology to adapt to a huge change in salinity. After several years, they go back to freshwater to reproduce. Pacific Lamp Rays can use chemical clues released by their larval migrating pals to find their way. They can travel hundreds of miles inland to find the perfect spot for spawning and rearing. It's not always the same place they spawned in. Many species of birds, mammals, and other fish can appreciate the fatty flesh of lambs, making them some of the most valuable players in freshwater and marine ecosystems.

Another Lampe type, the sea lamp Ray, is native to the Atlantic Ocean. It's not that dangerous when it's at home, but once it gets to the Great Lakes, it becomes a real threat to the four local native species of Lampe. The sea Lampe is up to four times bigger than the lake species, has unlimited food and spawning grounds, and no natural predators, so it becomes cocky. It secretes an enzyme that doesn't let the blood clot once it attaches to some unsuspecting fish. It spends the next several months feeding off of it, and even if the fish shakes the lamp Ray off, it doesn't have long to live because of the mark the predator leaves behind.

The Australian box jellyfish looks harmless, but it's considered the most venomous marine animal. Unlike other kinds of jellyfish that float with the current rather than swim, this creature can reach an impressive speed and choose its direction. It has tentacles covered with tiny darts loaded with poison. People and animals that get unlucky enough to meet with those tentacles face some scary and sometimes even fatal consequences in a matter of minutes.

Before you decide to never revisit the ocean, you should know that only a few out of around 50 existing species of box jellyfish have venom that is lethal to humans. There are some not-so-dangerous species living in warm coastal waters worldwide, and the most dangerous ones are in the Indo-Pacific region and Northern Australia.

A blue-ringed octopus spots a signature psychedelic color and the ability to take away your life. This cute-looking sea monster likes to spend its time in the soft sandy bottom or shallow tide pools and coral reefs. It normally hides in underwater crevices among shells or debris. If you disturb it, the octopus will activate its tiny color-changing organs and demonstrate its blue rings as a warning signal.

The next step will be releasing a venom a thousand times more powerful than cyanide. This venom is more toxic than that of land mammals. The octopus normally uses it to hunt crabs, shrimp, and small fish by pecking them with its beak and paralyzing them. There is no known antidote for the venom, so if you ever see this sea creature, the best you can do is to stay away from it. It bites without any pain, so you might not notice until it's too late.

The good news is that it's not aggressive and won't go after you unless it's cornered. The Reef stonefish are masters of disguise in the underwater world, camouflaging themselves on rocks, and coral reefs, or blending into the seabed. They thrive throughout the tropical marine waters of the Indo-Pacific. Their invisibility superpower makes them especially dangerous to their prospective victims. They ambush and swallow whole if someone happens to disturb them. Their 13 defensive dorsal spines stand on end and deliver a powerful venom punch. They say stonefish stings are extra painful and lead to scary consequences within minutes. They are called the most venomous fish in the world. If you don't do anything about it, the impact can be lethal.

If you ever go diving in the Pacific Ocean, be careful not to pick up a cone snail from the seafloor. It has a beautiful shell made of brown, black, or white patterns, like most other snails. It's slow, but it has a complicated system of seeking out prey. It likes to snack on fish, marine worms, or even other snails. Once a cone snail senses food is near, it activates a sharp proboscis or a needle-like protrusion from its mouth. The attack is swift and super potent. The victim doesn't even have time to realize what happened to them. Once it's completely incapable of moving, the cone snail swallows it whole. Humans aren't on its menu, but it can still release the venom if someone steps on it or disturbs it. The proboscis can even penetrate gloves. Luckily, only several out of over 700 species of cone snails can take a human's life, but since there's no antivenom, you better not risk it all.

There are 52 known species of sea snakes living mostly in the warm tropical waters of the Indian and Pacific Oceans, and they are venomous. The beak sea snake even has the title of one of the world's most venomous serpents, but it's one of the few kinds that can pose a real threat to humans. Sea snakes prefer a peaceful coexistence and would rather slither away than engage in any confrontations. If you ever see them in the water, staying calm and moving slowly will save your life. Sea snake bites, although almost painless at the moment, can have varying degrees of impact. Some may only cause mild symptoms, while others can lead to severe outcomes. Most bite reports come from accidental encounters, like someone freeing them from nets or unsuspecting beachgoers stepping on them.

Blue dragons rarely grow larger than the size of a grape. They like to swim belly up, so their brightest blues blend in with the ocean waters, and the silver front faces down and camouflages with the darker seabed. Blue dragons feed on other dangerous sea creatures and store up their stinging cells. Their venom lives on even after the fish itself is no longer alive. That's why you should be extra careful and never pick up or step on them on the beach.