the 'world's ugliest animal' (All photos via X)
The blobfish (Psychrolutes phrictus), often called the world's ugliest animal, was crowned 'Fish of the Year' in New Zealand.
The Orange roughy, another deep-sea fish, was declared the runner-up.
The annual competition held by the Mountain to Sea Conservation Trust aims to raise awareness for New Zealand's aquatic life.
Blobfish got about 1,300 out of more than 5,500 total votes cast.
Blobfish don’t have bones or muscle mass.
The can grow upto 27 inches (70 cm) and can live upto 10 years.
Their eyes are very large and placed quite high on the head and got no swim bladder.
Little buoyancy is required for a life largely spent laying on the ocean floor.
When caught and brought from the depths of the sea, its body deforms to become mushy in shape.
Thus, when caught their body became deformed.