Fish come in all shapes, sizes, colors, and behaviors. While most fish species fit nicely into their aquatic habitats, some have adapted in strange and surprising ways. These unusual fish stand out for their odd looks, weird diet, strange survival skills, or other quirks that make them remarkably different from your average swimmer. Fish anomalies like these have puzzled and fascinated humans throughout history. Let’s dive into the weird world of unusual fish!
What makes a fish unusual?
There are over 34,000 known species of fish on the planet, so diversity is normal and expected in the fish world. But some species are peculiar even by fish standards. What makes a fish unusual? Here are some of the qualities that can make a fish seem strange:
- Odd appearance – Unusual colors, patterns, shapes, or body parts
- Extreme size – Either very large or very small
- Weird diet – Eats things not normally consumed by fish
- Strange habitat – Lives somewhere considered extreme or inhospitable
- Bizarre survival skills – Unusual adaptations for breathing, mating, defending itself, etc.
- Quirky behaviors – Does strange things not seen in most fish
- Rarity – Very scarce species that are hard to find
- Living fossil – Unchanged from ancient ancestral form
Any fish that exhibits one or more of these traits stands out from the crowd. What’s considered usual for one species may be highly unusual for another. Uniqueness is in the eye of the beholder when it comes to fish oddities.
Examples of unusual fish
Here are some of the strange swimmers that exhibit uncommon traits:
Blobfish
This jelly-like fish lives at crushing depths of up to 2,000 feet in the waters off Australia, Tasmania, and New Zealand. The blobfish has minimal muscle and its density is slightly less than water. It lazily floats along the seafloor eating whatever critters float by its mouth. The blobfish looks like a grumpy melted sack of flesh.
Mandarinfish
This colorful little fish lives in the Pacific Ocean near dense coral reefs. At only 2 inches long, it eats tiny invertebrates. The mandarinfish has psychedelic colors that seem to swirl and change. It’s considered one of the most beautiful fish in the world.
Fangtooth
Living in the deep ocean, the nightmarish fangtooth has enormous teeth too large for its tiny mouth. Its beady eyes and menacing underbite give it a frightening appearance. The fangtooth grows up to 6 inches long and has the largest teeth compared to body size of any known fish.
Sarcastic fringehead
This aggressive bottom-dweller lives in coastal waters off North America. When threatened, the sarcastic fringehead displays a huge mouth rimmed with sharp teeth. It opens its enormous maw and presses it against an opponent’s mouth in a “mouth wrestle” for dominance.
Gulper eel
Dwelling deep in the ocean, this eel can open its mouth wide enough to swallow prey larger than its own body. Its large mouth and elastic stomach allow it to gulp down much bigger meals than normal. The gulper eel also has a glow-in-the-dark tail appendage used for luring in prey.
Vampire tetra
This unusual fish lives in South American rivers and gets its name from its blood-sucking feeding habits. The vampire tetra’s long, sharp fangs puncture the skin of other fish and feast on their blood and scales. Its diet is composed primarily of blood, setting it apart from other fish.
Mola mola
Commonly called the ocean sunfish, this odd-looking giant can weigh over 2,000 pounds. It swims on its side because its tall oval body makes it difficult to swim upright. The mola mola basks near the water’s surface soaking up the sun’s rays.
Barreleye
Living deep in the ocean, the barreleye fish has tubular eyes that face upward to search for food overhead. Its transparent head gives it a bizarre appearance. Green spheres under its eyes collect light to help it see. This unusual adaptation allows the barreleye to spot prey in the dark depths.
Viperfish
Few fish look as nightmarish as the viperfish with its long needle-like teeth and glowing “fishing lure” attached to its dorsal fin. This deep sea monster has hinged lower jaws that allow it to open its mouth very wide to swallow outsized prey. Its ominous appearance matches its predatory habits.
Why are unusual fish important?
So why should we care about these odd fish? What do they matter? While freakish fish are fascinating, they also play important roles in the aquatic environment:
- Bioindicators – Their unusual adaptations reflect the conditions of their habitat. Unusual fish provide insights into the overall aquatic ecosystem.
- Biodiversity – They increase the diversity of life, which helps maintain balance and resilience in the ocean.
- Evolution – Strange adaptations show the evolutionary process in action as fish evolve to fill ecological niches.
- Inspiration – Their uniqueness sparks imagination and wonder about nature’s boundless creativity.
- Environmental health – Their rarity or oddity can indicate environmental threats such as habitat loss, pollution, climate change, overfishing, and other human impacts.
While most unusual fish are not directly exploited by humans, they may suffer from depletion of prey species, damage to their habitat, and disturbances in the food web. Protecting these oddities involves conservation of their whole deep sea or coral reef environments.
Spotlight on unusual freshwater fish
While odd ocean dwellers get most of the attention, some truly bizarre fish also inhabit freshwater rivers, lakes, and streams. Here are a few of the strangest:
Arapaima
Growing over 9 feet long and weighing up to 400 pounds, the arapaima is a beast of the Amazon River. Its green and red coloration provides camouflage in the vegetation near the shore. The arapaima is an apex predator with few threats thanks to its formidable size.
Payara
Related to the piranha, the payara inhabits the Amazon, Orinoco, and Essequibo rivers. Two long fangs jut from its lower jaw like tusks, earning it the nickname “vampire fish.” Payara impale smaller fish with their fangs before swallowing them whole.
Aba Aba Knife Fish
Found in the turbid waters of the Amazon River basin, the aba aba has an elongated body and flattened head with eyes on the top. The eye placement helps it see above the muddy bottom while hunting. When threatened, the aba aba can deliver painful electric shocks.
Elephantnose Fish
Native to Africa, this distinctive fish has an elongated nose appendage attached to its chin. The elephantnose uses electroreception to navigate and find prey at night or in murky water. Scientists study its brain structure to understand electrical sensing capabilities.
Giant Freshwater Stingray
Growing over 16 feet long and up to 1,300 pounds, this massive ray inhabits rivers in Southeast Asia and northern Australia. Its venomous barbed tail can be lethal to humans. Despite their frightening potential, these gentle giants eat only small fish and invertebrates.
Conclusion
Unusual fish provide glimpses into nature’s boundless diversity. They come in every shape and size imaginable, from bloated blobfish to fang-toothed vampires. Weird adaptations allow these oddities to thrive in hostile environments. While easy to sensationalize, these anomalous fish play important roles in aquatic ecosystems. As bioindicators, symbols of evolution, and unique wonders, bizarre fish deserve appreciation and protection.
Next time you visit a zoo or aquarium, check out the fish exhibits. You might just see a strangely charming oddball looking back at you! The ocean and rivers hold far more mysteries than we can imagine. Who knows what other unusual fish are out there waiting to be discovered down in the depths.
