They even draw more research – a 2016 study found that 73 percent of the Australian academic publications covered marsupials, such as koalas and kangaroos. But such hideous animals play vital roles in their environments. It’s harder to imagine the hideous – but critically endangered – Titicia frog as the face of a conservation charity. Our narrow focus puts many species at real risk.Ĭute and charismatic animals like the Polar bear, panda, tiger, snow leopard and meerkat drew the most funding and attention.

The study claims that popularity, not ecological importance, is the reason for this mismatch. What about the rest of the animal kingdom?Īccording to a 2020 research paper, vertebrates like mammals, fish, and reptiles get 468 times more investment in conservation efforts than invertebrates, like insects, spiders and worms. “Their loss could have a disproportionate impact on high-biodiversity ecosystems.” “The ecological and evolutionary distinctiveness of unattractive fish makes them important for the functioning of the whole reef. “Mismatches between aesthetic value, ecological function, and extinction vulnerability may mean that the species most in need of public support are the least likely to receive it,” the researchers warn. Among marine mammals, the great white is one of the most commonly known scary fish, thanks to author Peter Benchley’s bestseller, Jaws. Ugly, ecologically diverse fish like the bocaccio rockfish (Sebastes paucispinis) and white steenbras (Lithognathus lithognathus) were also most in danger of exploitation and overfishing. 1.The Great White Shark There couldn’t be a list of the scariest fish in the ocean without the great white shark being the first to appear. This means they are more genetically similar to other fish than their ugly counterparts. However, these more ‘beautiful’ fish tended to be “less distinctive in terms of their ecological traits and evolutionary history,” researchers warned. To determine which fish were unattractive, a poll of thousands quizzed respondents on the aesthetic value of 480 ray-finned reef fish.īy feeding this data into an algorithm, the research team was able to predict aesthetic ratings for more than 2,417 fish.īright, colourful fish species with rounded bodies – like angel fish, clown fish, and parrot fish – received the most favourable responses.

The ‘Drab Sole’ (Achirus achirus) and ‘telescope fish’ (Gigantura chuni) probably aren’t winning any beauty contests.īut like the other ‘ugly’ fish ranked by researchers, they’re very important to underwater ecosystems. In fact, when underwater, the Blobfish isn't much different in appearance to other fish.“Our study highlights likely important mismatches between potential public support for conservation and the species most in need of this support.”īeauty is in the eye of the beholder – but there are some fish only a mother could love. It was later adopted by the society as its mascot. The Blobfish ( Psychrolutes marcidus) - a type of sculpin from the family Psychrolutidae - was voted the world’s ugliest creature in 2013, in a campaign run by the Ugly Animal Preservation Society, to raise awareness for endangered and aesthetically challenged animals. The Blobfish on display at the Fukushima aquarium. Kyodo News via Getty Images. It’s rare for a Blobfish to go on display as they rarely make it from the depths of the ocean to the surface alive.

The 60cm/24in deep sea fish went on exhibit at Aquamarine Fukushima in Iwaki after it was accidentally caught by a fisherman using a gill net at a depth of 750–1200m. Image by Inosipmax, Creative Commons.Ī public aquarium in Japan has put a Blobfish on display. Blobfish don't actually look like this when they're underwater.

Ugly fish underwater