These bizarre creatures live deep in the Indian ocean. They've been photographed for the first time

If you’re scared of what lurks in the depths of the ocean, look away now.

A host of strange new sea creatures have been discovered deep in the Indian ocean.

In an expedition to Australia’s remote Cocos (Keeling) Islands Marine Park, scientists from Museums Victoria research institute encountered weird and wonderful new animals - from a sharp-toothed lizard fish to a blind, gelatinous eel that gives birth to live young rather than laying eggs.

On their 35-day, 11,000 km journey, scientists scoured ancient sea mountains and canyons, collecting samples as far as 5 kilometres from the surface.

“We have discovered an amazing number of potentially new species living in this remote marine park,” said Museums Victoria Research Institute’s Dr Tim O’Hara, Chief Scientist of the expedition.

“We are proud that our maps, data and images will be used by Parks Australia to manage the new marine park into the future.”

It’s often claimed that we know more about the surface of the moon than we do about the ocean floor.

Appropriately, the new creatures do look truly extra-terrestrial.

‘High fin lizard fish’ are “voracious deep sea predators” with mouths filled with razor sharp teeth.

This odd-looking animal is a hermaphrodite - it possesses both ovaries and testes simultaneously.

The Sloane’s Viperfish is also described by Museums Victoria as ‘voracious.’ The fish has massive ‘fangs’ and rows of light organs to attract prey.

Nearby, the scientists located a previously unknown blind eel with loose, transparent, gelatinous skin. Most fish lay eggs - but this eel gives birth to live young.

The slender-snipe eel reaches up to a metre in length, but weighs just 50 grams. It is unable to close its curved jaws, lined with hooks to tear apart crustaceans.

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