Ugly fish -

Fish species are in the tens of thousands worldwide. There are fish that appear commonplace, like trout, and species that appear alien, found in both fresh and saltwater. This implies that some fish are much less appealing to look at, even if all fish are fascinating and distinctive in their own right.

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Hagfish, lampreys, cartilaginous and bony fish, and other extinct related groups are all included in this definition. Actinopterygii, or ray-finned fish, make up over 95% of all extant fish species, with teleosts making up nearly all of them.

5 Ugly Fish Species (With Pictures)

Blobfish

It’s possible that the blobfish comes to mind when you think about unattractive fish. This fish is distinguished by its slippery, droopy appearance. It may not have earned the distinction of being among the ugliest fish in the world, though. This is due to the fact that the blobfish’s appearance—which won it this title—isn’t really how it normally looks!
Blobfish inhabit the deep sea, usually in the vicinity of the ocean’s bottom. They are made to withstand the pressure of being this deep under the ocean. Their organs may fail when they are brought to the surface, which will change how they seem. When housed in the proper pressure and oceanic region, blobfish actually have a very regular appearance.

Goblin Shark

The goblin shark distinguishes itself from other fish species worldwide thanks to a few relatively unique physical traits. Its large, flat nose reaches far beyond its mouth, to start. Its jaws can be extended, and its teeth are tiny and pointed. They frequently relate their teeth to nails. They only use these teeth to catch certain fish species, crabs, and cephalopods, despite the fact that they might give them a threatening appearance. Their blood arteries and blood are visible in many parts of their body, including their face, due to their thin skin. They seem pink as a result.
Nevertheless, many people view the goblin shark as an ugly fish species because of these same morphological traits. Still, there are more justifications for understanding the goblin shark. Just one instance? Because of how far back in time their bloodline spans, they are regarded as living fossils!

Frilled Shark

There are more shark species that make up this list of the top five ugly fish species, aside from the goblin shark. Another uncommon deep-water shark with an unusual look is the frilled shark. They don’t even resemble living sharks to a lot of people. Rather from appearing like a live fish, the frilled shark has an odd appearance that more closely resembles a mummified shark!
Large heads and smooth, pale bodies characterize frilled sharks. Their enormous, frilly gills give them their name. Apart from that, though, they resemble eels rather than sharks. Although their numerous bent, needle-like teeth may appear frightening at first, they are only effective in capturing small, soft prey. There are no known instances of frilled humans attacking people sharks, but their teeth have unintentionally harmed a few scientists.

Anglerfish

If the anglerfish comes to mind when you consider ugly fish species, then the blobfish probably comes to mind as well. Anglerfish are bony fish belonging to the order Lophiiformes, which gained popularity due to the children’s film Finding Nemo. Although they differ in size and shape, they all share the same eerie appearance.
The “fishing” techniques used by angelfish give rise to their moniker. They use the growth projecting from their head to entice prey rather than actively pursuing it. They can catch and devour the prey when it is in close proximity. Although the growths on different species of anglerfish have distinct shapes and are found in somewhat different places, they all function to help this fascinating fish find its next meal. While a lot of anglerfish would rather live in the dark, deep waters; however, not all species can say this.

Red-Lipped Batfish

In reality, the red-lipped batfish belongs to the anglerfish family. It belongs to one of the numerous families in the anglerfish order, the Ogcocephalidae family. On this list of ugly fish species, though, it has earned a special place due of the way it differs in appearance from its more conventional cousins.
Frogs and red-lipped batfish have a striking resemblance. They have small front fins and huge back fins that they utilize to “stand” on the ocean floor. But they also resemble the goblin shark quite a bit thanks to their large, flat snout. Their vivid crimson mouth is the source of their name. Because of the way its lips seem, many people have even said that this type of batfish looks like it’s wearing lipstick!