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Mr Blobby (fish)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Mr Blobby
SpeciesPsychrolutes microporos
Cause of deathDecompression
Known forSubject of meme
AwardsWorld's Ugliest Animal

Mr Blobby is a specimen of Psychrolutes microporos, known for being the subject of an image macro meme reading "Go home evolution, you're drunk".[1][2][3]

Collection and photography

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Mr Blobby was collected from the Norfolk Ridge during the NORFANZ Expedition in June 2003. Caught at a depth between 1013 and 1340 metres by the RV Tangaroa,[1] it is 285mm long[3] and had a parasitic copepod at the side of its mouth.[2]

Although in its normal habitat P. microporos has a sleeker look due to pressure, once brought to the surface Mr Blobby swelled, with a softer appearance. It was photographed in this state by Kerryn Parkinson, Australian Museum ichthyologist.[1] After taking a more standard scientific image of the specimen, Parkinson decided it was "comical, charismatic and grumpy", photographing it from the front as well.[4]

Media profile

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In 2010, the photograph was featured in the Australian television show The Gruen Transfer, where advertising agencies were asked to design campaigns to 'save the blobfish'.[2]

Mr Blobby's profile was raised again when it won the title of ugliest animal in the world in 2013, a competition run by the Ugly Animal Preservation Society with the goal of drawing attention to less charismatic species.[5]

My Blobby appeared in the 2018 book You're Called What? by Kes Gray[6][7]

Scientific significance

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Though not a taxonomically significant specimen of Psychrolutes microporos, Mr Blobby has been described as indicative of our limited knowledge of ocean fauna.[8]

Current state

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Mr Blobby is stored at the Australian Museum' Ichthyology Collection in 70% ethyl alcohol.[3] This process has shrunk the specimen, and it now appears closer to its undersea form.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d Rykers, Ellen (2023-06-07). "The story behind this famous face". The Spinoff. Retrieved 2024-07-13.
  2. ^ a b c Magazine, Smithsonian; Lidz, Franz. "Behold the Blobfish". Smithsonian Magazine. Retrieved 2024-07-13.
  3. ^ a b c "Blobfish (aka Mr Blobby)". Australian Museum. 3 November 2023. Archived from the original on 8 July 2024. Retrieved 13 July 2024.
  4. ^ Dalton, Angus (28 February 2022). ""I try to find the beauty in everything": Checking in on the fugly fish that broke the internet". Australian Geographic. Archived from the original on 26 June 2023. Retrieved 13 July 2024.
  5. ^ "Blobfish wins ugliest animal vote". BBC News. 2013-09-12. Retrieved 2024-07-13.
  6. ^ "You're Called What?".
  7. ^ "Book Review – You're Called What?!". 14 May 2019.
  8. ^ Dalton, Trent (17 January 2015). "The blobfish and other deep questions". The Weekend Australian Magazine. Archived from the original on 25 September 2023. Retrieved 13 July 2024.