Mythical Sea Creatures That Are Real: From Legends to Your Instagram Feed

17 Jun 2024

Okay, let’s be real for a second: who among us hasn’t spent a solid afternoon on a Wikipedia deep dive into the weird and wonderful world of mythical creatures? And let’s be extra real, the ocean is basically a giant, mysterious bathtub full of things we haven’t even discovered yet. It’s like, the rent is apparently super cheap down there because evolution just keeps dumping its weirdest roommates into those depths. So, naturally, some of those mythical creatures we obsess over? Turns out, they might not be so mythical after all.

We’re not just talking about your friendly neighborhood dolphin suddenly revealing itself as a secret mermaid society (though, not ruling it out). No, we’re talking about creatures that have inspired centuries of tall tales, whispered legends, and maybe a sea shanty or two. Creatures that sent shivers down the spines of sailors and fueled epic poems. These creatures are the real deal, living their best lives in the murky depths, completely unaware of their starring role in human mythology. And honestly? Their real-life stories are even wilder than anything we could have dreamed up.

Think about the Kraken, that terrifying beast of legend, capable of dragging down entire ships with its monstrous tentacles. Turns out, the giant squid (Architeuthis dux) is very much a reality, lurking in the inky blackness of the deep sea. While scientists haven’t documented one taking down a galleon recently, they can reach a staggering 43 feet in length. That’s longer than a school bus! Suddenly, those old sailor stories don't seem quite so far-fetched, do they?

Or how about the terrifying stories of sea serpents, slithering through the waves with their serpentine bodies? Enter the oarfish (Regalecus glesne), the longest bony fish in the sea, reaching lengths of over 50 feet. With their elongated bodies, silvery scales, and a red, crest-like dorsal fin that they can raise and lower, it's easy to see how they could be mistaken for a mythical serpent, especially by terrified sailors who probably weren't sticking around for a closer look.

And let's not forget the frilled shark (Chlamydoselachus anguineus), a creature straight out of a prehistoric nightmare. With its primitive, eel-like body, frilled gills, and rows of needle-sharp teeth, it's like a flashback to a time when the ocean was a much more terrifying place. They're often called "living fossils" because they've remained relatively unchanged for millions of years, a testament to their badassery. This isn’t just your average, run-of-the-mill shark, people. This is a creature that makes Jaws look like a goldfish.

These incredible creatures, once relegated to the realm of myth and legend, are a testament to the sheer power and mystery of the natural world. They remind us that there's still so much we don't know about the ocean's depths and the creatures that call it home. So, the next time you're scrolling through Instagram, feeling like you've seen it all, remember the giant squid, the oarfish, the frilled shark - living proof that reality is often stranger (and more awe-inspiring) than fiction. The ocean is full of surprises, and some of them might just be lurking right beneath the surface, waiting to be discovered.