Psychrolutes marcidus facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Psychrolutes marcidus |
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| Drawing of blobfish by Allan Riverstone McCulloch | |
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Neophrynichthys marcidus McCulloch, 1926 |
The blobfish (scientific name: Psychrolutes marcidus) is a very unique deep-sea fish. It belongs to a group of fish called the Psychrolutidae family. You can find blobfish living in the deep waters near Australia, Tasmania, and New Zealand.
About the Blobfish
Blobfish are usually shorter than 30 cm (12 in). They live very deep in the ocean, between 600 and 1,200 m (2,000 and 3,900 ft) below the surface.
Life in the Deep Sea
At these amazing depths, the water pressure is incredibly high. It's like having 60 to 120 times the weight of the air pressing down on you compared to being at sea level! Most fish use a special air sac called a gas bladder to help them float. But for blobfish, a gas bladder wouldn't work well because of the extreme pressure.
Instead, the blobfish has a body that is mostly a soft, jelly-like mass. This special body material is lighter than water. This allows the blobfish to float easily just above the sea floor. It doesn't need to use much energy to swim or stay in place.
What Blobfish Eat
Blobfish do not have many muscles, but this is not a problem for them. They don't need to chase after food. Their main food source is "marine snow". This is a fancy name for tiny bits of edible matter that float down from the ocean's surface. They also eat small deep-ocean crustaceans that float by.
Gallery
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Artist's representation of two blobfish in situ
See also
In Spanish: Pez gota para niños
