Deepsea fish. Not for the faint of heart!

I just want to spark a bit of interest here for some people that may have never heard of such things...

I don't know if this is technically crypto, but they are quite weird animals. I have been interested in deepsea fish for quite a while. There are so many crazy looking species down there in the DEEP sea, and new ones are being discovered every day! So few people even know these things exist. Sure, a lot of us have heard of the giant squid and Coelacanth, but that's about where it ends for most people. I searched and couldn't find any threads on this topic, so I thought I would share some of the most bizarre looking ones. Some are so rare that there aren't even real pictures but only illustrations, but they are all verified to exist.

I considered posting pictures of each one, but it would be far too hard to give credit to each person, and I don't want to violate any copyrights by doing so. Here is just one crazy example:

"Mr. Blobby"/Fathead


Source: NORFANZ (A department of the Australian National Oceans Office)
www.amonline.net.au...
www.oceans.gov.au...

A Fathead (genus Psychrolutes) trawled during the NORFANZ expedition at a depth between 1013 m and 1340 m, on the Norfolk Ridge, north-west of New Zealand, June 2003 (AMS I.42771-001). Photo: K. Parkinson © Australian Museum. The scientists and crew on board the RV Tangaroa affectionately called this fish 'Mr Blobby'. Note the parasitic copepod on Mr Blobby's mouth.

This is far from a comprehensive list, but try Googling these and see what kinds of crazy pictures you can get:

Gulper Eel

Deep sea Angler (Also known as Monkfish)

Fangtooth/Ogrefish

Viperfish

Coelacanth

Hatchetfish

Sixgill Shark

Grenadier (add word "Fish" to your search or you won't find it)

Opisthoproctus

Chambered Nautilus (I personally believed these were extinct for quite a while)
See also: Ammonite

Giant Isopod (Previously featured here on ATS in one of those "WHAT THE HECK IS THIS?" threads)
Vampire Squid

Lizardfish

Dragonfish

Greeneye (add word "Fish" to your search or you won't find it)

Lantern Fish

Chin Whisker (Fish)

Benthosaurus

Bristlemouth

Snipe Eel

Doublekeel Whalefish

Manefish

Blob fish

Chimaera (fish)

There are MUCH, much more! Try a search in Google Images for "Deep sea fish" and see the kind of crazy stuff that turns up. Search for websites with other variations of "Deepsea fish" "Deep sea fish", or specific species. Then just follow the links from there and you'll stumble onto even more.

I'd like to see some other people come back with some crazy finds of their own.

Deepsea fish rule!

PS: I hold no responsibility if you suddenly never want to go swimming again .

[edit on 5-10-2005 by Yarcofin]

wow that is one strange looking fish. I can't help imagining it sitting atop a brick wall for some reason !



But seriously , I love seeing some of mother natures more bizarre designs , and some of the creature from the deep blue seem so odd that you couldn't even have imagined them. I'll enjoy checking out some of those names on the list when I get the chance

Yeah it sort of looks like either walter Matheau, or a Mr. Saturn from the "Earthbound" video game.

The only other ones on that list that I know of are the coelacanth and the lantern fish.

lmao @ the wall. How about having THAT for a neighbour . Or just as humpty dumpty. lol.

Mr Saturn haha, it does! Why didn't I didn't think of that one.


It does sort of look like Walter Matthau too, the lips and the nose. But he's dead so I'm leaving that one alone. lol.

Seriously though... I'm sure it has self-esteem problems already... let's leave it alone . lol.

Again back to the serious side, some of these creatures really are crazier than you could ever imagine, like pantha has said. I think deepsea creatures beat bigfoot or nessie in "weirdness factor" any day .

I believe Shakespeare's response would be:

There are more things in heaven and earth, Than are dreamt of in your philosophy

[edit on 5-10-2005 by Yarcofin]

Hahahahha - My GOD it is ugly! Would love to see how it looked fully expanded in water though.

Ugly creature indeed but it could be the prettiest compared to all the other deep sea creatures.

Anyone going to post more pictures?

I did some searching to find some more examples of "Mr. Blobby"

A lot of even uglier/scarier looking versions show up when you image-search for "Psychrolutes", which is the latin name.

Seems it is also called a "Blob Sculpin". Sculpins seem to be related to anglers by what I can see. At least some versions.

"Lumpfish" seems to also bring up some pics of it, although this doesn't seem to be a proper name for it, but another unrelated fish.

What ugly, ugly fish... That middle one literally looks like some old hag's head cut off.

Fine, I'll link to some pics for lazy people. Hopefully clicking these doesn't shock you too much. It will save people who don't want to see it from having to, and will add to the surprise for people who do :


Angler

Another Angler

Longnose Chimaera

Gulper Eel (up to 6 ft)

Viperfish

Isopod

Vampire Squid

Chambered Nautillus

I guess, the lack of sunlight will make things ugly looking...

Anyone knows if the way it looks actually helps it surive in the deep sea environment?

This is just proof that God tried EVERYTHING before he finally settled with humans. I think that the whole ocean is just kind of like his "Scrap Box", or erasor of you will.

"Hm.....too ugly! In the ocean you go!"

"Too small..."

"Too dumb..."

"Too fast..."

"Too mean..."

Hmmmmmmmm.......

Man the deep sea never fails to produce some of the most strange creatures on the planet. It really is like a whole other world down there life seems so alien.

That being said that has to be one of the ugliest creatures I have ever seen. But who needs looks when you live in total darkness I guess

Angler Fish is an evil fish, reminds me of the one fish from Star Wars E1. The deep sea is evil, why I stick to pools and rivers and lakes. Sure we have Muskie and walleye, but nothing like sharks and stingray and evil fish.

looks like my uncle....it shows we are truely from the sea

some great posts by people here.

Though not to sound like i`m sticking up for this thing,but i`d like to see it in its natural environment,my guess is that the corners of his mouth usually point up wards.He`d then be a really happy ugly son of a barracuda

I love deepsea creatures, some look like regular aliens to me.

what i love most are the fluorescent animals that dwell down there.



After the Tsunami disaster a lot of them washed up on shore

more info here(with lots of pictures

by gps777:
Though not to sound like i`m sticking up for this thing,but i`d like to see it in its natural environment,my guess is that the corners of his mouth usually point up wards.He`d then be a really happy ugly son of a barracuda

Actually, here it is in it's natural environment:

Nothing against Mr. Greenspan, he's just the first thing that came to mind.

Back on topic though . . . I too have always been amazed by new finds from the depths. The angler fish has always been a personal fav, here fishy fishy whilst dangling their tempting lil' appendage . . . . then Wham!

Huge nose. Its slabbering. So ugly. I'd hate to be one of those, butt seriously, i'd love to see one in its natural habitat, see what they eat and how/if they kill

i think alot of the 'unattractiveness' in deep sea creatures has to do with sex. with no light to see, attractiveness goes down on the functionality list. most of what we would consider beautiful in animals has to do with mating. bright, varied colors, and patterns are usually present to attract a mate. whats that saying, we're all beautiful when the lights go OUT?

that one pic of the fish on top of the brick wall reminds me of the whole "Kilroy was here" thing from wwII time period.

Originally posted by Full Metal
Angler Fish is an evil fish, reminds me of the one fish from Star Wars E1. The deep sea is evil, why I stick to pools and rivers and lakes. Sure we have Muskie and walleye, but nothing like sharks and stingray and evil fish.

Some sharks can swim right up the fresh water in a river...Happy Swimming!

Awe how CUTE and cartoonish! Is that thing for real? If it is a deep sea fish, It must be a sicilian one by the size of that there nose! ( I'm sicilian so I know about the noses!)