Blobfish

Overview

Psychrolutes microporos, commonly known as a blobfish or fathead, is a deepwater marine fish belonging to the family Psychrolutidae. It is native to the deep abyssal zones in the ocean waters around Australia and New Zealand. This species became widely recognized globally following the collection and photography of an individual specimen in 2003.

Appearance

In its natural deep-sea environment, the blobfish maintains a compact, fish-like body shape capable of withstanding immense aquatic pressure. However, when brought to the surface too quickly, the extreme drop in pressure causes severe tissue damage. This process transforms its body into a gelatinous mass with a whitish coloration, a wide mouth, and a prominent nose-like proboscis.