Today's real-life sea monster is not as dangerous to humans as some of the aquatic horrors we've showcased lately (we hope Tuesday's deadly microscopic monster didn't spoil your summer swimming plans), but he makes up for it with a handle that's damn sure to pop up in a SyFy movie sometime soon: ladies and gentlemen, we bring you Vampyroteuthis infernalis, which literally translates as “Vampire Squid from Hell.”
This vampire doesn't actually suck blood; its awesome name is instead inspired by the webbed “cape” that ranges from blood-red to black in color, and a pair of “wings” that give it a bat-like appearance. Some specimens even have demonic red eyes and emit clouds of glowing fog! Sounds like the perfect pet for a horror fan... if not for the fact that it's a very rare species, and lives at depths where most sea life would die from lack of oxygen. It's also in danger of extinction due to global warming and over-fishing.
As if its looks weren't spooky enough, this squid can also do something really disgusting to trick potential predators: he can turn himself inside out, in what appropriately enough is nicknamed the “pumpkin posture.” (Seriously, this guy is like a mobile Halloween party.) National Geographic posted this video from the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute, which demonstrates this skeevy defense mechanism in action...