Can the ugly blobfish be eaten, and will it bite people?

As humans explore and fish the deep sea, many deep-sea fish with bizarre appearances have left a strong impression, and the blobfish is one of them.So, can the blobfish's meat be eaten? Will it bite people?

1. Basic facts about the blobfish

1. Distribution of the blobfish

The blobfish is a fish that lives at depths of 600-1200 m, also known as the sad fish, the smooth-head blobfish, and the bobo fish. It has an “ugly” appearance and a mournful face, which is why it is called “the fish with the saddest expression in the world.” It is currently found in the deep waters off Australia and along the coast of Tasmania, and generally grows to about 30 cm.

2. Physical characteristics of the blobfish

The blobfish lacks the swim bladder that is “standard” in fish, has a tadpole-like body shape, and a gelatinous body; it is an animal that breathes using its gills. Because it does not swim fast in the water, it cannot escape in time when faced with human deep-sea fishing. The blobfish is also pink and soft all over, with a huge head that takes up almost half of its body, a large nose slumped on its face, and drooping corners of the mouth that are a perfect expression of “gloom”; in addition, the blobfish has a very large mouth and usually survives mainly by swallowing edible matter in front of it.

2. Can the blobfish's meat be eaten?

The blobfish's meat is a gelatinous substance less dense than water, so it is not suitable for eating, but its jelly-like flesh does help it rise easily from the seafloor. Although it is not suitable for consumption itself, because it lives at the same ocean depths as more delicious marine creatures (such as crabs and lobsters), the blobfish becomes a casualty along with them. As fishing activity becomes increasingly frequent, blobfish are often caught together with other fish and shrimp. Some scientists say that blobfish are declining year by year and are also under threat of extinction, so protecting the blobfish has become an urgent matter.

3. Will the blobfish bite people?

The blobfish is a fish that lives in the deep sea and generally will not bite people.

In addition, the blobfish has a unique hatching method: the female blobfish lays her eggs in shallower sea areas and then lies on the eggs without moving until the young fish hatch. In 2013, the United Kingdom held an online vote for the world's ugliest animal, and the blobfish topped the “list.”

That is all the information about the blobfish. After reading this, I wonder whether you have learned something about it.