The “blobfish” is somewhat ”well known” because it is generally considered to be very ugly. Its unfortunate name is based on an natural shape of this fish. All blobfish have two shapes: one for deep water specimens (= natural habitat) and one for specimens forced by humans to exist (for a short time) in shallow water (which is NOT the habitat of this fish---i.e., they cannot live in shallow water).
NORMAL FORM: Deep-water specimen.
Figure 1. A"blobfish" [Psychrolutes microporos] from a deep-water depth (about 2,000 to 4,000 feet), is where it normally lives in Western Australia and in New Zealand. At that depth, it looks like a typical fish because the water pressure keeps its body "contained." Blob fish are typically 6 to 12 inches long.
This fish” is not crushed at these extreme depths because the animal has adapted to live there (note: it does not have a swim bladder, and it has weak bones and water-logged tissue for pressure protection).
In completely dark, very cold, and deep water, where this fish naturally lives, it can “hover” (float) effortlessly just above the sea floor and does not expend energy swimming around. They have a "sit-and-wait" lifestyle and do not chase their prey. They lack teeth and sharp spines. "Blobfish" also lack heavy bones and muscles. They do not chase their food; rather, they wait for crustaceans, mollusks, and sea urchins to drift by or craw by. Then, they simply suck them into their waiting jaws.Thus, this deep-water version of this fish looks like a normal fish when in its natural deep-water environment.
SHALLOW-WATER FORM: An unnatural habitat for this fish (they cannot live there for very long!).
Figure 2. When placed in shallow water, this fish no longer has the immense water pressure that literally compresses it. Thus, it expands, looks grotesquely swollen, and resembles a blob. After a short time, it will perish.
Classification
Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Class Actinopterygii (ray finned)
Order Scorpaeniformes
Family Psychroulutidae
Genus Pyschrolutes
Type Species P. marcidus
So, now you know the story about the unfortunate "common name"-designation of this normally deep-water fish.
Reference
Wikipedia, 2026
