Blob Fish known as the world’s ugliest deep sea creature, Shutterstock, by World-Wide-Photography
The Blobfish
A Pandemonium Day Special
By Katelin Kukk
Once named as “the world’s ugliest animal”, these misunderstood fish are a very unique species. The blobfish (Psychrolutes marcidus) is a deep-sea fish that live almost 4,000 feet below the surface. They live in cold and dark habitats within the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Ocean. Since they live in deep depths with little prey, they exhibit a “lie and wait” behavior to conserve energy. Crustaceans, brittle stars and more come across their path and that is when they strike.
Photo of a Blobfish – World’s ugliest fish, Adobe Stock, by Josh
Unlike most fish, the blobfish lack a swim bladder. The swim bladder is an air-filled organ that helps fish with buoyancy and movement. Fish with a swim bladder that live in deeper depths are killed when they are pulled quickly to the surface due to rapid depressurization. The blobfish on the other end start to form what looks like a frowning pile of pink goop due to their weak bones and muscles. Normally, they hold a tadpole-like shape in their natural habitat with the help of pressure from the water. These interesting fish have no natural predators except human activities like deep sea fishing and trawling.
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