Discovered in the Deep
In 1983, a deep-sea expedition aboard the RV James Cook trawled up a strange fish from the abyssal depths near Australia and New Zealand. It was later described by Joseph Nelson in 1995 as Psychrolutes microporos, a species belonging to the blobfish family. The holotype specimen is preserved in the Museum of New Zealand.
Life in the Abyss
Psychrolutes microporos lives at depths of 980 to 1,200 meters (3,200–3,900 feet), where the pressure is immense. Unlike its famous “blobby” appearance on land, it is compact and fish-like in its natural environment. The gelatinous body helps it survive in high-pressure conditions.
The Birth of “Mr. Blobby”
During the NORFANZ Expedition in 2003, scientist Kerryn Parkinson photographed a specimen of Psychrolutes microporos pulled from the depths. The pink, sagging fish was nicknamed “Mr. Blobby”, and the image later spread across the internet.
An Unlikely Internet Sensation
In 2013, Psychrolutes microporos was voted “The World’s Ugliest Animal” by the Ugly Animal Preservation Society, turning it into an unexpected global icon.
Deep in the waters of Australia and New Zealand, a strange creature remained unknown until a 1983 expedition. Later named Psychrolutes microporos, this gelatinous fish gained fame after a 2003 photo. The image went viral, earning it the title of the world’s ugliest animal.🧵👇 pic.twitter.com/tSeEqSkGV1
— Detective Tiger's Stories (@TigerDetective) February 4, 2025