Scariest Fish Types

Size:Tiger Fish species exist. The largest one reaches about 155 lbs (70 kg).

Location:Africa and South America.

Distinguishing Features:These large fish have a row of sharp, fang-like teeth. Unlike most freshwater fish, these fish did not make a deal with the devil.

Why You Should Be Scared:Tiger Fish possess large, fang-like teeth to grab prey. Their strength means attacks on humans can cause serious wounds. They likely cannot kill you, but encountering one can lead to a very bad day.

Size:5" to 40" (13 to 100 cm).

Location:They live in coastal oceans and fresh waters. They have also been found in the open ocean.

Distinguishing Features:Lampreys are jawless, parasitic fish that look like eels.

Why You Should Be Scared:Lampreys are prehistoric "living fossils," unchanged for millions of years. Their mouths lack jaws but have rings of sharp, conical teeth for latching onto prey. They usually eat marine species but might swim up and latch onto a human if bold; this has happened. They became an invasive species in the North American Great Lakes, causing problems for swimmers and fishermen.

Size:Some are small; others reach 16" (40 cm) long, but the smaller ones are the ones to fear.

Location:Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru.

Distinguishing Features:Slender, translucent bodies make these fish hard to see in their native waters. Small, bulbous spikes near their head make them difficult to remove.

Why You Should Be Scared:These small fish swim up a person's urethra and get stuck, requiring surgery for removal. Most reports about Candirú come from the 19th century and are suspect or debated. The first documented removal of a Candiru from a person's urethra happened in 1997.

Size:14" to 20" (35 to 50 cm).

Location:Coastal regions of the Indo-Pacific.

DistinguishingFeatures:Relatively squat bodies and coloring patterns help these fish blend in. They look like rocks until you step on them.

Why You Should Be Scared:Stonefish possess some of the planet's most venomous fish. Their venom causes extreme pain and can kill if not treated after a bite. Few deaths happen, which is good since people often step on them. Stonefish blend into their surroundings well. They like warm, shallow water. People often touch their painful barbs instead of preferring not to.

Size:Around 22" (56 cm) long.

Location:Eastern seaboard of the United States.

Distinguishing Features:They bury themselves in sand, waiting for prey.

You should fear them because they hide easily. They enjoy warm, shallow water, leading people to step on their painful barbs.These ugly fish are not very dangerous to humans. However, they bury themselves in sand, meaning many beachgoers touch sharp teeth. The Northern Stargazer's bite causes pain and tissue damage. Its electric organs can send an electric shock to victims.

Size:5" to 14" (12 to 35 cm).

Location:Amazon Basin.

Distinguishing Features:They have incredibly sharp, strong teeth and a powerful jaw. This lets them tear off pieces from prey.

You should fear them because they hide easily.Avoid Piranha when you swim in freshwater. A single Piranha is not always a threat, but they rarely swim alone. A school of Piranha can strip a grown cow's flesh quickly. The news media has exaggerated stories about their eating habits. They usually feed only at night, so avoid swimming in their habitat after sunset.

Size:They do not get very large, reaching a maximum length of 6.3" (16 cm).

Location:Tropical and cold-temperate deep-sea waters.

Distinguishing Features:These small fish have huge, fang-like teeth. This makes them scary to look at.

You should fear them because they hide easily.You will not find a Fangtooth Fish near a beach. These fish live in the ocean's deepest parts. Their gigantic, fang-like teeth give them their name.

Size:Like many deep-sea creatures, they do not get very large. The average size is about 2.5' (0.75 meters).

Location:Deep seas in all oceans.

Distinguishing Features:A jaw larger than the fish's entire body!

You should fear them because they hide easily.The Gulper Eel, also called the Pelican Eel or Umbrella-mouth Gulper, has huge jaws. Its jaw hinges loosely, letting it swallow fish bigger than itself. These monsters avoid humans, so you likely won't meet one, but their look and size are scary.

Description of 'Sarcastic fringehead' in the list 'Scariest Fish Types'It measures 12 inches (30 cm) long.

Description of 'Sarcastic fringehead' in the list 'Scariest Fish Types'Pacific waters off the coast of North America.

Distinguishing Features:Though small, these fish can stretch their mouths, making them look much bigger than they are.

Why You Should Be Scared:These fish don't worry humans unless you try to take their area. They get very aggressive when their territory feels threatened; this makes them open their mouths in that frightening way. They can bite people, but they are small and cannot seriously hurt a human.

Size:Females grow between 8 inches and 3 feet (20 cm to 1 meter). Males are tiny and act like parasites to the female for mating. Some females reach 100 lbs (45 kg).

Location:They exist worldwide, but deep in the ocean, so you won't find one swimming—which is good.

Distinguishing Features:They have long, jagged teeth, can open their mouths wider than expected, and possess a special appendage with a glowing sack at the end to attract food.

Why You Should Be Scared:These ugly fish pose no danger to humans. They look much worse than they are, but they made this list just because of their appearance. They look scary! They are dangerous to small prey. Females have a light-up part on top of their head to draw in food. Their huge mouth opening lets them swallow big prey.