Is Blobfish Really The World's Ugliest Fish?

Blobfish, a deep-sea fish of the family Psychrolutidae, inhabits the deep waters of Australia, Tasmania and New Zealand. Measuring less than 30 cm(12 in) in length, they live at depths between 600m to 1200m.

It is famous for being the titleholder of the world's ugliest fish. But does it really deserve that title? Is it really the ugliest fish in the world? Or the story is something else? Let's find out below.

Photo credit: Reddit

This is the photo of blobfish that made it an internet sensation in 2013 and this is how it is widely recognised around the world. This is how it looks when it is brought to the surface mainly as a bycatch. But this is only one half of the story.

Photo credit: Reddit

The photo of the blobfish above is the other half of the story. This is how it looks deep in the ocean in its natural habitat.

So, why does blobfish looks completely different when it is brought to the surface as compared to what it looks like in its natural habitat? As we already know blobfish is a deep-sea fish, it is adapted to live in a high-pressure environment. It is primarily made up of gelatin, lacks hard bones and has hardly any muscles. Its body is supported by the high pressure down there. When it is brought to the surface, the huge difference in pressure decompresses it and gives it a slime-like appearance.

Blobfish may not be one of the most beautiful creatures out there but it surely isn't the ugliest one in its habitat.