Oct 31, 2006

From the Netherworld

Both Peer and Miss Cellania submitted this lump of a fish, and I thought it a fitting photo for Halloween. It does look ghost-like, or at least like some denizen of the Netherworld. I can't tell if it is more lump-of-lard or dough-dumpling in appearance. What ever it is, it doesn't look too happy.

Ioan helped me identify it as a Blob Sculpin. This fish is lumped (pardon the pun) in with other bathyal and abyssal fish. Abyssal - from the Netherworld indeed.

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

Geez, to go through life with the name "blob" sculpin...the scientific name has got to be a little kinder! (If I looked like this, I'd live in the depths, too...)

Raging Wombat said...

Yes. Whoever named this poor fish must have been in a foul mood. They added insult to injury.

Garfman said...

Aww, c'mon, he'd probably brighten up if someone just gave him a hug...

Raging Wombat said...

This particular specimen might not brighten up (seeing as his life status is questionable), but I'm sure that your average Blob Sculpin is perfectly amenable to a friendly embrace.

Anonymous said...

Oh, man, it just gets worse. The family that the poor blob sculpin belongs to is commonly referred to as the "Fatheads."

Raging Wombat said...

Fatheads? Someone has to give these ichthyologists a course in sensitivity training.

Anonymous said...

Why do you think ichthyologists feel the need to be sensitive to the feelings of fish? Does a soldier love the war? Do doctors love disease?

Raging Wombat said...

At least someone is looking out for our scaley friends.