Enter the Ugliest Fish in the Sea… the Blobfish

The blobfish is a species of deep-sea fish that belongs to the family called fatheads. They can be found only off the coasts of Australia, New Zealand, and Tasmania. Blobfish spend their life at depths of approximately 2,000 – 4,000 feet where water pressures exceed 120 times greater than the pressure at sea level. The largest threat for blobfish is accidental entrapment in ground trolling fishing nets; also known as by-catch.

First the Stats…

Scientific name: Psychrolutes marcidus
Weight: Up to 20 lbs.
Length: Up to 12 inches
Lifespan: Up to 130 years

Now on to the Facts!

1.) Blobfish have small spines that cover their body, rather than scales.

2.) Unlike other fish, this unattractive creature has no swim bladder. At the depths at which they reside, their swim bladder would burst under the pressure.

3.) These critters don’t have bones or muscles. They instead have a jelly-like substance that turns to a floppy gelatinous mass when they are taken from the water. Hence the name blobfish.

4.) They don’t expend much energy swimming. Instead, they just hover just above the ocean floor in search of food.

5.) Blobfish are carnivorous (eat meat) and their diet consists of sea urchins, crustaceans, shellfish, and sea pens.

But wait, there’s more on the blobfish!

6.) This deep sea critter has no teeth. They instead suck in their food via a vacuum-like suction and then digest their prey.

7.) Females lay thousands of pink eggs on the ocean floor in rocks and crevices.

Did you know…?
Due to the pressure these fish live under, it is not possible to capture and keep one alive for long, unless you have a highly customized pressurized container. Once they are brought onboard they practically melt into a… well… blob and die.

8.) Some experts believe that the blobfish are in danger of extinction, but aren’t entirely positive as little is known about them and studying them is difficult at such depths.

Now a Short Blobfish Video!

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