No wonder he looks like the world's most miserable fish... this unattractive creature, the inedible blob fish, is in danger of being wiped out.

Ted Thornhill - 26th May, 2010

These sad-looking creatures, which grow up to lengths of 12 inches, live at depths of 900m.

They spend most of their time gently floating around waiting for food to pass in front of them, which sounds like quite a nice life to us!

Because they live so far from the sea surface they're not often seen by humans.

However, increasing levels of deep-sea fishing in Australia and Tasmania for crab and lobster mean that the sulky sea-dwellersare beingdragged up with othercatches in increasing numbers.

These gelatinous masses may not be much to look at, but the world would be a less interesting place without them, probably, so let's hope the Australians don't kill them off.

More: Is this mystery fish even uglier than blob fish? Has this replaced the Blob fish as the ugliest fish in the world?

It has fins that look like hands, a pair of 'feet', and an expression that looks like it's just been told some very bad news - could the mysterious fish challenge the Blob fish for the title of ugliest fish ever?


Tom Phillips - 26th May, 2010

The bizarre-looking fish has a pair of fins that can grip like a hand and a pair of tiny foot-like appendages that, it's thought, may help it crawl along the bottom of the seabed.

Experts apparently think that it usually lives in the depths of the South China Sea, but was forced to the surface by pollution - where it was caught, and eventually bought by restaurant owner Bao Sung in Fuji-an, eastern China.

The fish is a clear rival to Metro favorite, the Blob fish, in the 'unhappy-looking deep sea fish' stakes.

'His fins are so big and muscular he could walk to the table,' commented Bao.

Despite our best efforts at internet cryptozoological detective work, we haven't been able to identify what species the fish could be - any guidance from passing ichthyologists would be warmly received. What kind of fish is it? Is it a whole new species? Is it an alien? Do let us know.