The ocean is one big mystery, teeming with unusual species. A "bizarre" group of deep-sea species was recently discovered in underwater volcanoes in a distant location of the Indian Ocean. Eels without eyes, bat-like fish, and lizard fish with rows of razor-sharp teeth were among the startling discoveries made by scientists and researchers from the Museums Victoria Research Institute.
These species, which were reportedly found during an expedition to Australia's isolated Cocos Islands Marine Park, which spans a territory of 290,213 square miles. Perth, in western Australia, is 2,750 kilometers away from the discovery site.
A blind eel with gelatinous skin was one of the previously unknown deep-sea creatures that the crew researched while taking samples from more than three miles beneath the ocean's surface. The researchers were captivated by the creature's underdeveloped eyes, which were found at a depth of more than three kilometers.
A high fin lizardfish was another discovery, which has both ovaries and testes at the same time. A flatfish with eyes on one side of its head was also found, allowing it to see while lying on the seafloor. Additionally, deep sea batfish that move across the ocean floor on their armature-like fins were found.
The Sloane's Viperfish was one of the most intriguing discoveries thanks to the lengthy light trail that ran along its underbelly.
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