 |
| Lionfish |
1. Lionfish—don’t be fooled by this delicate-looking beauty. Beneath its gauzy fins and mesmerizing stripes are stiff spines that pack a venomous punch.
 |
| Rock Fish photo by kthypryn, flickr creative commons |
 |
| Spiny Sea Urchins |
2. Rockfish—this baby is as ugly as Frankenstein. But don’t let your guests step on it, or their feet will swell up and ache, maybe for the rest of their lives. And while feverish dancing might be a plus at the party, rockfish induced fevers are not!
3. Spiny sea urchins—scatter these everywhere for a spiderlike look. Just be careful not to touch them; their razor-sharp venom-packed spines can pierce even the toughest costume.
 |
| lanternfish-photo-NOAA public domain image |
4. Lanternfish—if you invite the small ones (1-inch long), be sure to invite plenty. They’ll flit around like tiny dancing lights! The big 12-inch ones also give off a lightstick-like glow. They’re great for setting an eerie atmosphere for your friends.
 |
| vampire-squid-illustration-se41 Wikipedia Commons public domain image |
5. Vampire squid—this creature looks like it swam right out of a nightmare. But it’s not too big, only six inches long, so it ought to make good friends with all the bats you’ve invited. It can easily hide then flash when it wants to be seen or to warn away annoying guests. But beware, it also emits a bioluminescent mucous cloud when agitated.
Which of these spooky creatures would you want at your party and why? Happy Haunting!
