Axlrosen sends along this bizarre, but wonderful item from the Australian Museum. The official cap:
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.
ZIGGY!
Theres a fish called a fathead? Oh man, this opens up a whole realm of "you are what you eat" jokes.
Wow, that fish looks strangely human. Reminds me of my old music teacher.
I want to know what it eats. And how does it swim? Are those tiny fins at the back?
He looks somewhat unhappy. Glad to see someone mentioned eating him in the first post, or I would have lost my faith in IOTD posters.
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"When I die, I want to go peacefully, in my sleep like my grandfather. Not screaming in terror like the passengers in his car."
Awww - he looks so sad! It would be interesting to see what it looks like in the water. I imagine it wouldn't look quite so smooshed up.
Guzintite !!!!!
here's a tissue .
I bet it wouldn't fry up that welll.
Probably explode the fryer eh? I'd want some DNA testing before consumption though, looks a little like Jimmy Hoffa.
"Fathead"? I think that's more specifically a "blobfish" (Psychrolutes marcidus).
It's blobby because it uses gelatinous goo instead of gas bladders for flotation (gas bladders don't work so well ~1000m down...). They just float there in the dark and wait for food to drift by. Sort of the couch potatoes of the fish world, I suppose. Hmm, maybe that's where most of those overboard Doritos disappeared to?
It's blobby because it uses gelatinous goo instead of gas bladders for flotation
Hey, just like Rob Reiner.
"My goo! My precious goo!!"
He looks somewhat unhappy. Glad to see someone mentioned eating him in the first post, or I would have lost my faith in IOTD posters.
Welcome to the Cellar, hipshot. :D
Thank you. I have been lurking for a long time. It's not as dark and scary as I thought it would be. Also, the parasitic copepods kind of creep me out.
That's Meester Blobby to you!
Señor Wences!.... is that really you? :biggrinba