Blobfish in water

If you were asked to think of the ugliest creature you can imagine, blobfish in water, you might picture the blobfish: a pale pink gelatinous blob with a droopy, downturned mouth and large, sagging nose. In its natural habitat—thousands of feet underwater—the misunderstood blobfish looks like a normal fish.

Blobfish are a unique species of fish that are native to the deep-sea waters of the Pacific, Indian, and Atlantic Oceans. While they may not be the most aesthetically pleasing creatures, they are fascinating to study and observe. When they are caught in fishing nets and brought to the surface, they often appear bloated and distorted due to the change in pressure. However, when they are in their natural habitat, they have a more normal appearance. They are typically a pale pink or gray color and have a soft, flabby body with loose skin. Despite their unusual appearance, they are well adapted to surviving in the extreme conditions of the deep-sea environment.

Blobfish in water

Famous for having ugly headshots, this lazy bottom-feeder is relatively new to science but has cast a spell over human beings in the digital age and is already immortalised in memes, soft toys and emojis. What's the real reason it looks so glum? And what can it teach us about conservation or the secretive habitat in which it lives? The scientific name of the fish in the famous blobfish photo is Psychrolutes microporos , from a family of fish called Psychrolutidae. However, the term 'blobfish' is sometimes used more broadly to describe other members of the Psychrolutidae family such as P. The first specimen of P. It was another decade before the fish was formally described and given its scientific name. And even now, there are large gaps in our understanding of this enigmatic sea creature, despite a number of other samples being found in trawler nets. Despite the unknowns, the blobfish found widespread notoriety after another specimen was photographed in This is the famous image you see everywhere, including at the top of this page. Its gelatinous appearance made it a gift to early internet culture. Droopy, slimy and very easy to anthropomorphise, the fish was later named the ugliest animal in the world in a poll set up by the Ugly Animal Preservation Society , a conservation group that argues it's not just the cute critters that deserve our protection. Before finding fame as an internet meme, the blobfish was a scientific curiosity.

Despite their gelatinous appearance, blobfish do have muscles, although not in the traditional sense.

At the surface, blobfish look like unhappy internal organs. Here's a brief refresher for the unintitiated:. That ghoulish appearance has landed the deep-sea inhabitants genus Psychrolutes on many an "ugliest animals" list, but a video from the research vessel EV Nautilus shows that it's not always fair to judge a fish out of water. On a dive off the coast of n orthern California, the team encountered a blob sculpin Psychrolutes phrictus and watched on as the fish guarded a brood of tiny, pink eggs. The trio above are the same species as this living specimen, but as you can see, the animals look a bit different at depth! In fact, they're actually kind of cute.

He has pale pink flesh with a treacly sheen. His flabby proboscis nose droops over fat downturned lips, and his black eyes are downright rueful. Ichthyology Research Assistant at the the Australian Museum Research Institute Dr Kerryn Parkinson snapped the notorious portrait of the blobfish in aboard the NORFANZ cruise, a research expedition that trawled deep sea habitats between Australia and New Zealand to discover more about what lurks in our seas beyond the reach of sunlight. The expedition yielded all manner of fascinating animals, including more than species new to science. Awaiting our rendezvous at the Australian Museum, suspended elegantly in a jar of preservation fluid the shade of date-night Riesling. These guys have a tadpole-shaped body. The area around Australia and New Zealand provides the perfect sort of conditions for this family. His parasitic lip ring has been plucked away. Kerryn explains the fish looked so comical when it was first caught due to the sharp change in pressure from the deep sea to surface level.

Blobfish in water

The smeary flesh of Mr. Blobby—as the photogenic blobfish is affectionately known—is no longer Bubblicious-pink. Dredged up off the coast of New Zealand during a research voyage, the specimen has spent the last decade suspended in a 70 percent ethyl-alcohol solution. Has there ever been crueler proof that alcohol changes the way you look? Of the hundreds of deep-sea critters hauled in on the New Zealand expedition, the Psychrolutes microporos was the breakout star. A photograph snapped aboard ship lit up on social media and transformed this squidgy bottom feeder into an aquatic Grumpy Cat, with devoted followers on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Tumblr. Seen by few but known by many, Mr. So Mr. Blobby is a bit of a self-promoter. OK, a world-class self-promoter.

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At around 3, feet, the pressure is a hundred times stronger than on land. Instead, blob sculpin rely on their gelatinous flesh — which is slightly less dense than seawater — to stay afloat. If they did, it would implode due to the extreme pressure. You'll also notice an octopus in the background, likely lurking for a chance at those tiny protein-packed eggs. Their skin is loose-fitting due to the water pressure. And amidst all the noise, voices get lost and some stories are never heard. He founded the Ugly Animal Preservation Society to boost the profile of less-loveable creatures. Blobfish species live in some of the deepest pockets of the ocean, at depths between and 1,m. Although they are often portrayed as a blob of jelly, blobfish look like normal fish in their natural environment. However, most blobfish are much smaller, around 20 centimeters in length. Photo credit: Sea Serpent Are blobfish dangerous?

This was the first discovery of this versatile sea creature, and the marine biologists on board the ship named this Blobfish "Mr. Today, Mr.

However, some species of blobfish — including the one nicknamed Mr Blobby — are found in fairly small territories. Blobfish are usually found in dark, cold habitats deep at the bottom of the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific oceans, between 1, and 3, feet deep. These flabby fish have no known predators, but may be threatened by destructive human activities, such as deep-sea fishing and bottom trawling , which is when a weighted fishing net is dragged along the sea floor. For example, we don't know how many there are, whether they have natural predators, how they're affected by ocean acidification or how long they live for. In fact, they're actually kind of cute. Many other animals that live in the deep sea, such as jellyfish , also have soft bodies that enable them to survive in the high-pressure environment. These animals are lie-in-wait predators, meaning they sit at the bottom of the ocean and eat anything that passes by, such as crustaceans, brittle stars, anemone, and carrion. Inside the eerie science of bogs. What's the real reason it looks so glum? Take your passion further by supporting and driving more of the nature news you know and love. Before finding fame as an internet meme, the blobfish was a scientific curiosity. Here's a brief refresher for the unintitiated: Blob sculpin Psychrolutes phrictus at the surface. With as little effort as possible. Their lack of muscle and bone density allows them to adapt to the high-pressure environment in which they live.