Why Do Blobfish Look Like Humans? The deep-sea blobfish, whose flabby face is simultaneously scary and comical, is well-known for being an internet sensation. Some believe that because of its appearance, it is human. Let us explore this amazing creature’s details.
What is the Blobfish?
It belongs to the family Psychrolutidae and is sometimes called a sculpin or, for obvious reasons, a fathead. However, this deep-sea fish’s flabby appearance—which has gained popularity on the internet—is deceptive.
When the species is taken out of its natural habitat and brought to the surface, it simply appears to be a dessert from the 1980s.
It lacks the swim bladder, a gas-filled internal organ that most bony fish use to govern their capacity to stay afloat in water.
It also has fragile bones, few muscles, and no muscles. That does not imply, however, that the blobfish just sinks to the ocean floor.
Rather, its body resembles jelly and has a density that is marginally less than that of the water it inhabits.
Because of this, it floats just above the ocean floor, waiting for tiny crustaceans and other edible materials to pass by before suckling them for sustenance.
Blobfish are rarely seen alive since they are restricted to a few locations worldwide and can only be found 2,000–4,000 feet below the water’s surface.
When deep-sea fishing trawlers use nets to sweep up marine animals from the ocean floor in an attempt to obtain edible fish, they typically discard deceased specimens, which constitute the majority of specimens that humans come into contact with.
However, blobfish remain elusively underphotographed because they perish at sea level air pressure levels.
What Do Blobfish Eat?
Beyond its rather unattractive visage, the deep-sea blobfish has some other interesting characteristics. Its flesh is quite unique with a texture akin to aspic.
Many fish can modify their buoyancy because of the useful small gas-filled sac known as a swim bladder. A swim bladder would simply rupture in the intense pressure of deep water, though.
However, the blobfish managed to get around the swim bladder! They can float in the deep sea at the depth where they feel most comfortable because of the buoyant, jelly-like nature of their flesh, which is less thick than water.
Beyond its rather unattractive look, the deep-sea blobfish has some other interesting characteristics. Its flesh is quite unique with a texture akin to aspic.
Many fish can modify their buoyancy because of the useful small gas-filled sac known as a swim bladder. A swim bladder would simply rupture in the intense pressure of deep water, though.
However, the blobfish managed to get around the swim bladder! They can float in the deep sea at the depth where they feel most comfortable because of the buoyant, jelly-like nature of their flesh, which is less thick than water.
Because octopuses are so intelligent, a predator would need to possess some kind of unique skill in order to capture one.
This appears to be a result of the blobfish’s strong, enormous jaws, which can expand very wide and then snap shut to swallow massive prey whole.
RELATED ARTICLES:
- Why Does My Ball Python Hiss?
- Why Do Lions Hate Hyenas?
- Why Do Cats Hate Water?
- Do Rabbits Smell Bad?
The Decompression Deception
When blobfish are brought to the surface, an issue occurs. Their skin sags and their gelatinous bodies expand because of the abrupt reduction in pressure.
Their droopy, almost human-like features are a result of this rapid shift, which is why humans find them so unnerving.
Blobfish would resemble regular fish much more in its natural habitat, albeit one with a tadpole-like form.
The Blobfish Known to be Loners
Blobfish appear to be somewhat lonesome animals; all the blobfish that scientists have seen have been found to be alone.
Regarding their mode of reproduction and frequency of encounters with other members of their type, scientists know relatively little.
There are few blobfish in their known environment, which worries some experts. While it’s possible, it’s unlikely that they’re getting entangled in trawling nets at that deep; those nets are large, but not enormous.
Rising ocean temperatures are a longer-term hazard to blobfish since they appear to require extremely deep, cold water or high latitudes to survive.
Blobfish, mystery, that’s your name! Nevertheless, all indications suggest that this species is faring fairly well for itself.
How Long Can a Blobfish Live?
Given our little knowledge about these fascinating fish, this is a challenging question to address. We do, however, know that marine fish that inhabit deep water have a tendency to grow slowly, mature slowly, and live long lives.
For instance, the roughly rockfish, which inhabits depths of 150 to 450 meters, has a life expectancy of over 200 years.
How Do Blobfish Swim?
Using the least amount of work possible. The blobfish lacks a swim bladder, a structure resembling an air sac that helps fish nearer the surface regulate their buoyancy, just like many other deep-sea fish.
The strain would crush them if they did. Rather, it is the blobfish’s fatty body composition that matters. Actually, compared to the water it lives in, it is less dense.
Are Blobfish Dangerous?
No. Less than 30 cm long, blobfish black teeth and have a fragile body. You could definitely defeat one in a battle.
To be sure, not many people will ever come across a blobfish unless they are extremely fortunate to come across a deceased specimen in a museum or a fishing net.
To locate these creatures alive, you’ll need a submarine or submersible because they reside deep within the ocean.
What Does a Blobfish Look Like Underwater?
A blobfish kind of just looks like a fish at deep. They have prominent black eyes, slightly bulbous heads, and feathery pectoral fins.
Their bodies taper down to the tail like a tadpole, with a pinkish-grey color. Typically, blobfish weigh less than 2 kg and are shorter than 30 cm.
Recall that the blobfish is only unattractive; it’s not intrinsically ugly. It’s an amazing illustration of how animals adjust to their surroundings.
Maybe the next time you see an image of this resident of the deep sea, you’ll be able to admire its tenacity and be amazed by the weird and amazing world that lies beneath the waves.