The blobfish, a deep-sea fish which lives in the Pacific Ocean along the Australian shore, was recently ‘crowned’ the ugliest animal in the world by the Ugly Animal Preservation Society, in an effort to raise awareness about threatened species.
The unsightly critter (Psychrolutes marcidus) tallied 795 of the total3,000 votes with its alien yet strangely human features, and also became the society’s mascot.
The contest was organised alongside the British Science Association and promoters challenged celebrities and comedians to create campaign videos for each participating species.
Simon Watt, founder of the society, said: “We’ve needed an ugly face for endangered animals for a long time and I’ve been amazed by the public’s reaction. For too long the cute and fluffy animals have taken the limelight, but now the blobfish will be a voice for the ‘mingers’ who always get forgotten.”
New Zealand’s kakapo, a flightless bird, came in second, followed by the axolotl, a salamander that can regenerate its limbs.
