Blobfish
Blobfish
Fish
A deep-sea fish held in shape by immense water pressure, floating just above the seabed; it looks gelatinous only when hauled up to the surface.
Deep down on the pitch-black ocean floor lives the blobfish, one of nature's squishiest marvels. In the crushing pressure of the deep sea, it looks just like a normal swimming fish. But if it is brought up to the surface where there is no water pressure, its jelly-like body relaxes into its famous gooey blob shape!
💡 Fun Facts
- Under pressure: The blobfish only looks like a pink, gooey puddle on dry land! Down in the deep ocean, the immense weight of the water presses against its body, keeping it sleek and firmly in shape.
- Jelly-powered floating: Deep-sea pressure would crush a regular fish's air bladder, so the blobfish has soft bones and jelly-like flesh that is lighter than water, letting it bob effortlessly above the seabed without tiring itself out.
- Patience is on the menu: Instead of wasting energy chasing food, this relaxed creature hovers quietly above the seafloor with its mouth open, waiting for tasty snacks like tiny crabs and sea snails to drift straight inside!
Name Story
Psychrolutes marcidus
means “The flabby cold-water bather”
What does its name mean?
- Psychrolutes — one who bathes in cold waterGreek psychros 'cold' + louo 'to bathe'
- marcidus — withered, flabby, droopyLatin
This fish lives deep down in near-freezing water, where its soft, jelly-like body holds its shape — but brought up to the surface it sags into the famously droopy 'blob', just as 'flabby cold-bather' suggests.