No.11: Dumbo Octopus (Grimpoteuthis spp)
With its rounded body and wing-like fins, the Dumbo Octopus looks like a character straight out of a children’s movie—hence its name, inspired by Disney’s Dumbo. These delicate cephalopods drift gracefully through the water, flapping their ear-like fins as if performing an underwater ballet.
But don’t let its cuteness fool you—its home lies in the crushing depths of the ocean, at depths approaching 7,000 meters (23,000 feet). In fact, in 2020, one was recorded at a staggering 6,957 meters in the Java Trench, setting the depth record for any octopus species.
Typically about 8 inches (20 cm) long, Dumbo Octopuses feed on crustaceans and worms, skillfully navigating the seafloor for prey. Known as the “fairies of the deep,” they remain one of the most enchanting enigmas of the abyss, captivating researchers and explorers alike.
No.10: Blobfish (Psychrolutes marcidus)
Imagine a saggy, pink gelatinous mass—that’s the Blobfish, crowned “The World’s Ugliest Animal” in 2013. Native to the deep waters off southeastern Australia and Tasmania (600–1,200 meters down), this strange-looking creature belongs to the sculpin family. Its Japanese name, Nyūdō Kajika, likens it to a bald-headed monk.
The Blobfish’s infamous look isn’t what it appears in nature. In its natural high-pressure habitat, it’s a fairly ordinary-looking brown fish. But once hauled to the surface, where the pressure drops dramatically, its gelatinous body collapses into the iconic blob-like shape that inspired its English name.
Despite its meme-worthy reputation, the Blobfish has a softer side: females guard their eggs with surprising devotion. Equal parts grotesque and oddly charming, this deep-sea oddball has become an unlikely pop culture star—and a symbol of the ocean’s strangest wonders.
