{"id":8221,"date":"2011-06-16T11:40:47","date_gmt":"2011-06-16T15:40:47","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.earthrangers.com\/wildwire\/?p=8221"},"modified":"2025-01-21T10:25:34","modified_gmt":"2025-01-21T15:25:34","slug":"top-ten-strange-looking-fish","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.earthrangers.com\/EN\/CA\/top-10\/top-ten-strange-looking-fish\/","title":{"rendered":"Top Ten Strangest Looking Fish"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2>#2 Sea Lamprey (<em>Petromyzon marinus<\/em>)<\/h2>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_8225\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-8225\" style=\"width: 337px\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-8225  \" title=\"lamprey_mouth_and_body_drow_male\" src=\"\/EN\/CA\/wp-content\/uploads\/lamprey_mouth_and_body_drow_male.jpg\" alt=\"sea lamprey mouth and body drow male\" width=\"337\" height=\"250\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.earthrangers.com\/EN\/CA\/wp-content\/uploads\/lamprey_mouth_and_body_drow_male-80x60.jpg 80w, https:\/\/www.earthrangers.com\/EN\/CA\/wp-content\/uploads\/lamprey_mouth_and_body_drow_male-160x120.jpg 160w, https:\/\/www.earthrangers.com\/EN\/CA\/wp-content\/uploads\/lamprey_mouth_and_body_drow_male-265x198.jpg 265w, https:\/\/www.earthrangers.com\/EN\/CA\/wp-content\/uploads\/lamprey_mouth_and_body_drow_male-485x360.jpg 485w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 337px) 100vw, 337px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-8225\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Male sea lamprey<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><strong>Where we live<\/strong>: Oceans and bodies of fresh water, even the Great Lakes where we are an invasive species!<\/p>\n<p><strong> Why we\u2019re strange<\/strong>: Our mouths are permanently open and we use them to attach ourselves to other creatures, like fish. We don\u2019t have a jaw, in fact, we don\u2019t even have any bones \u2013 our skeleton is made of cartilage (the stuff your nose is made of).<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<div>\u00a0<\/div>\n<h2>#3 Ocean Sunfish (<em>Mola Mola<\/em>)<\/h2>\n<p><br \/><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"http:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/File:Mondfisch_Ozenarium_Lissabon_20090228.ogv?withJS=MediaWiki:MwEmbed.js&amp;embedplayer=yes\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" frameborder=\"0\"><\/iframe><br \/><strong>Where we live<\/strong>: In temperate and tropical waters throughout the world.<\/p>\n<p><strong> Why we\u2019re strange<\/strong>: : We may look shinny, but our skin is actually rough like sandpaper. When we are stressed, we can change our skin colour from light to dark. Weighing about 2200 pounds on average, we are the heaviest bony fish in the world. However, we can get even bigger! One of use reached 4927 pounds, which is heavier than 5 Siberian tigers.<\/p>\n<h2>#4 Oarfish or King of Herrings (<em>Regalecus glesne<\/em>)<\/h2>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_8227\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-8227\" style=\"width: 239px\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\"><a href=\"\/EN\/CA\/wp-content\/uploads\/oarfish_danelle_jl_clark.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-8227  \" title=\"oarfish_danelle_jl_clark\" src=\"\/EN\/CA\/wp-content\/uploads\/oarfish_danelle_jl_clark.jpg\" alt=\"oarfish\" width=\"239\" height=\"360\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.earthrangers.com\/EN\/CA\/wp-content\/uploads\/oarfish_danelle_jl_clark.jpg 332w, https:\/\/www.earthrangers.com\/EN\/CA\/wp-content\/uploads\/oarfish_danelle_jl_clark-279x420.jpg 279w, https:\/\/www.earthrangers.com\/EN\/CA\/wp-content\/uploads\/oarfish_danelle_jl_clark-199x300.jpg 199w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 239px) 100vw, 239px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-8227\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Oarfish. Photo credit: Danelle JL Clark<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><strong>Where we live<\/strong>: In oceans at depths of 200m to 1000m (almost 2x the length of the CN Tower).<\/p>\n<p><strong> Why we\u2019re strange<\/strong>: We are the longest fish in the world. We usually grow about 8 meters, but some of us have grown as large as 17 meters. When we swim close to the surface, it is a spectacular sight. We are often mistaken for sea serpents and have been the cause of many myths.<\/p>\n<div>\u00a0<\/div>\n<div>\u00a0<\/div>\n<div>\u00a0<\/div>\n<div>\u00a0<\/div>\n<div>\u00a0<\/div>\n<div>\u00a0<\/div>\n<div>\u00a0<\/div>\n<div>\u00a0<\/div>\n<h2>#5 Hagfish (<em>Myxinidae<\/em>)<\/h2>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_8226\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-8226\" style=\"width: 346px\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-8226  \" title=\"myxinidae\" src=\"\/EN\/CA\/wp-content\/uploads\/myxinidae.jpg\" alt=\"myxinidae\" width=\"346\" height=\"259\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.earthrangers.com\/EN\/CA\/wp-content\/uploads\/myxinidae.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.earthrangers.com\/EN\/CA\/wp-content\/uploads\/myxinidae-80x60.jpg 80w, https:\/\/www.earthrangers.com\/EN\/CA\/wp-content\/uploads\/myxinidae-160x120.jpg 160w, https:\/\/www.earthrangers.com\/EN\/CA\/wp-content\/uploads\/myxinidae-265x198.jpg 265w, https:\/\/www.earthrangers.com\/EN\/CA\/wp-content\/uploads\/myxinidae-530x396.jpg 530w, https:\/\/www.earthrangers.com\/EN\/CA\/wp-content\/uploads\/myxinidae-560x420.jpg 560w, https:\/\/www.earthrangers.com\/EN\/CA\/wp-content\/uploads\/myxinidae-300x225.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 346px) 100vw, 346px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-8226\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Hagfish<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><strong>Where we live<\/strong>: Throughout the temperate oceans of the world, although we prefer colder waters.<\/p>\n<p><strong> Why we\u2019re strange<\/strong>: Our skeleton is made of cartilage (like the Lamprey) and our eyes are hidden under our skin so we are nearly blind. We are most famous for our cocoon of slime, which is one of our defense mechanisms; if a predator tries to bite us, the slime will clog its gills. To get rid of the slime we just tie ourselves in a knot and move it down our body.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<h2>#6 Bandtail Sea-Robin (<em>Prionotus Ophryas<\/em>)<\/h2>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_8222\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-8222\" style=\"width: 346px\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-8222  \" title=\"bandtail_sea_robin_john_e_randall_from_worldfish_center_fishbase\" src=\"\/EN\/CA\/wp-content\/uploads\/bandtail_sea_robin_john_e_randall_from_worldfish_center_fishbase.jpg\" alt=\"bandtail sea robin\" width=\"346\" height=\"158\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.earthrangers.com\/EN\/CA\/wp-content\/uploads\/bandtail_sea_robin_john_e_randall_from_worldfish_center_fishbase.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.earthrangers.com\/EN\/CA\/wp-content\/uploads\/bandtail_sea_robin_john_e_randall_from_worldfish_center_fishbase-300x137.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 346px) 100vw, 346px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-8222\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Bandtail Sea-Robin. Photo credit: John E. Randall from Worldfish Center Fishbase<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><strong>Where we live<\/strong>: Western Atlantic and the Gulf of Mexico to Venezuela.<\/p>\n<p><strong> Why we\u2019re strange<\/strong>: We have a curved-in head and a broad snout. Our gill rakers act like fingers to sift through the debris on the sea floor and look for food.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<div>\u00a0<\/div>\n<div>\u00a0<\/div>\n<h2>#7 Lumpfish (<em>Cyclopterus lumpus<\/em>)<\/h2>\n<figure id=\"attachment_8230\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-8230\" style=\"width: 346px\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-8230 \" title=\"spiny_lumpsucker\" src=\"\/EN\/CA\/wp-content\/uploads\/spiny_lumpsucker.jpg\" alt=\"spiny lumpsucker\" width=\"346\" height=\"258\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.earthrangers.com\/EN\/CA\/wp-content\/uploads\/spiny_lumpsucker.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.earthrangers.com\/EN\/CA\/wp-content\/uploads\/spiny_lumpsucker-300x224.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.earthrangers.com\/EN\/CA\/wp-content\/uploads\/spiny_lumpsucker-80x60.jpg 80w, https:\/\/www.earthrangers.com\/EN\/CA\/wp-content\/uploads\/spiny_lumpsucker-160x120.jpg 160w, https:\/\/www.earthrangers.com\/EN\/CA\/wp-content\/uploads\/spiny_lumpsucker-265x198.jpg 265w, https:\/\/www.earthrangers.com\/EN\/CA\/wp-content\/uploads\/spiny_lumpsucker-530x396.jpg 530w, https:\/\/www.earthrangers.com\/EN\/CA\/wp-content\/uploads\/spiny_lumpsucker-485x360.jpg 485w, https:\/\/www.earthrangers.com\/EN\/CA\/wp-content\/uploads\/spiny_lumpsucker-561x420.jpg 561w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 346px) 100vw, 346px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-8230\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Spiny lumpsucker<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><strong>Where we live<\/strong>: North Atlantic Ocean around Greenland, Great Britain, Scandinavia and Canada. We like to swim in places that have rock bottoms.<\/p>\n<p><strong> Why we\u2019re strange<\/strong>: You probably won\u2019t be able to see our most interesting feature because it\u2019s most likely stuck to something. We have a suction disc on the underside of our bodies, which allows us to stick to things like rocks and walls.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<h2>#8 Common Stargazer (<em>Kathetostoma laeve<\/em>)<\/h2>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-8223  \" title=\"eastern_stargazer_kathetostoma_laeve_peter_halasz\" src=\"\/EN\/CA\/wp-content\/uploads\/eastern_stargazer_kathetostoma_laeve_peter_halasz.jpg\" alt=\"eastern stargazer, kathetostoma laeve\" width=\"346\" height=\"220\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.earthrangers.com\/EN\/CA\/wp-content\/uploads\/eastern_stargazer_kathetostoma_laeve_peter_halasz.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.earthrangers.com\/EN\/CA\/wp-content\/uploads\/eastern_stargazer_kathetostoma_laeve_peter_halasz-300x190.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 346px) 100vw, 346px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><strong>Where we live<\/strong>: Around Australia and Tasmania especially in shallow estuaries and bays with sandy floors.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Why we\u2019re strange<\/strong>: We spend most of our lives buried under the sand. When a fish swims by that we might want to eat, we lunge out of our hiding spot and catch them.<br \/><br \/><\/p>\n<div>\u00a0<\/div>\n<div>\u00a0<\/div>\n<div>\u00a0<\/div>\n<h2>#9 Spearnose chimaera (<em>Rhinochimaera atlantica<\/em>)<\/h2>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-8229  \" title=\"rhinochimaera_rob_curry\" src=\"\/EN\/CA\/wp-content\/uploads\/rhinochimaera_rob_curry.jpg\" alt=\"rhinochimaera\" width=\"345\" height=\"258\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.earthrangers.com\/EN\/CA\/wp-content\/uploads\/rhinochimaera_rob_curry.jpg 425w, https:\/\/www.earthrangers.com\/EN\/CA\/wp-content\/uploads\/rhinochimaera_rob_curry-80x60.jpg 80w, https:\/\/www.earthrangers.com\/EN\/CA\/wp-content\/uploads\/rhinochimaera_rob_curry-160x120.jpg 160w, https:\/\/www.earthrangers.com\/EN\/CA\/wp-content\/uploads\/rhinochimaera_rob_curry-265x198.jpg 265w, https:\/\/www.earthrangers.com\/EN\/CA\/wp-content\/uploads\/rhinochimaera_rob_curry-300x225.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 345px) 100vw, 345px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><strong>Where we live<\/strong>: Close to the ocean floor at the bottom of continental slopes in the Atlantic Ocean.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Why we\u2019re strange<\/strong>: We are light brown and have long snouts. From nose to tail, we measure about 140cm. You will know our eggs when you see them because they are hard and spiky.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<div>\u00a0<\/div>\n<h2>#10 Diamond Lizardfish(<em>Synodus synodus<\/em>)<\/h2>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_10605\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-10605\" style=\"width: 346px\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-10605 \" title=\"strange_fish_synodus_synodus_philippe_guillaume\" src=\"\/EN\/CA\/wp-content\/uploads\/strange_fish_synodus_synodus_philippe_guillaume.jpeg\" alt=\"synodus synodus\" width=\"346\" height=\"259\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.earthrangers.com\/EN\/CA\/wp-content\/uploads\/strange_fish_synodus_synodus_philippe_guillaume.jpeg 640w, https:\/\/www.earthrangers.com\/EN\/CA\/wp-content\/uploads\/strange_fish_synodus_synodus_philippe_guillaume-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.earthrangers.com\/EN\/CA\/wp-content\/uploads\/strange_fish_synodus_synodus_philippe_guillaume-80x60.jpeg 80w, https:\/\/www.earthrangers.com\/EN\/CA\/wp-content\/uploads\/strange_fish_synodus_synodus_philippe_guillaume-160x120.jpeg 160w, https:\/\/www.earthrangers.com\/EN\/CA\/wp-content\/uploads\/strange_fish_synodus_synodus_philippe_guillaume-265x198.jpeg 265w, https:\/\/www.earthrangers.com\/EN\/CA\/wp-content\/uploads\/strange_fish_synodus_synodus_philippe_guillaume-530x396.jpeg 530w, https:\/\/www.earthrangers.com\/EN\/CA\/wp-content\/uploads\/strange_fish_synodus_synodus_philippe_guillaume-560x420.jpeg 560w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 346px) 100vw, 346px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-10605\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Diamond Lizardfish. Photo credit: Philippe Guillaume<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><strong>Where we live<\/strong>: We usually live in shallow water and reefs. Sometimes we venture out into deeper areas near Europe, the Gulf of Maine, Mexico, as well as the Northwest Atlantic.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Why we\u2019re strange<\/strong>: We get our name from the shape of our body, which is round and long. Like all lizardfish, we have many sharp teeth, even on our tongue and the roof of our mouth.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<h5>\u00a0<\/h5>\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Count down through some of the planet&#8217;s funkiest looking fish. When you&#8217;re done counting be sure to comment to tell us which one you think is the strangest fish of all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">#1 Bearded ghoul (<em>Inimicus didactylus<\/em>)<\/h2>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignleft is-resized\"><a href=\"\/EN\/CA\/wp-content\/uploads\/inimicus_didactylus_daniel_guip.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" src=\"\/EN\/CA\/wp-content\/uploads\/inimicus_didactylus_daniel_guip.jpg\" alt=\"bearded ghoul, inimicus didactylus\" class=\"wp-image-8224\" style=\"aspect-ratio:1;width:250px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.earthrangers.com\/EN\/CA\/wp-content\/uploads\/inimicus_didactylus_daniel_guip.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.earthrangers.com\/EN\/CA\/wp-content\/uploads\/inimicus_didactylus_daniel_guip-80x60.jpg 80w, https:\/\/www.earthrangers.com\/EN\/CA\/wp-content\/uploads\/inimicus_didactylus_daniel_guip-160x120.jpg 160w, https:\/\/www.earthrangers.com\/EN\/CA\/wp-content\/uploads\/inimicus_didactylus_daniel_guip-265x198.jpg 265w, https:\/\/www.earthrangers.com\/EN\/CA\/wp-content\/uploads\/inimicus_didactylus_daniel_guip-560x420.jpg 560w, https:\/\/www.earthrangers.com\/EN\/CA\/wp-content\/uploads\/inimicus_didactylus_daniel_guip-300x225.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Bearded ghoul. Photo credit: Daniel Guip<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<p><strong>Where we live<\/strong>: Eastern Indian and Western Pacific Oceans, especially around China, Philippines, Northern Australia, and the Andaman Islands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Why we\u2019re strange<\/strong>: Our skin looks like it is covered in warts but it is actually just our skin glands. Using our fins we can walk along the sea floor. Bearded ghouls also like to hide under mud or in coral reefs, waiting for supper to swim by.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">#2 Sea Lamprey (<em>Petromyzon marinus<\/em>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.earthrangers.com\/EN\/CA\/wp-content\/uploads\/lamprey_mouth_and_body_drow_male.jpg\" alt=\"sea lamprey mouth and body drow male\" width=\"337\" height=\"250\">Male sea lamprey<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Where we live<\/strong>: Oceans and bodies of fresh water, even the Great Lakes where we are an invasive species!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Why we\u2019re strange<\/strong>: Our mouths are permanently open and we use them to attach ourselves to other creatures, like fish. We don\u2019t have a jaw, in fact, we don\u2019t even have any bones \u2013 our skeleton is made of cartilage (the stuff your nose is made of).<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>From a fish that uses the power of slime for protection to the world&#8217;s heaviest swimmer, take a look at the scary things that swim in the deep. Eeek! <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":10605,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1353,411,662,931],"tags":[197,335],"class_list":{"0":"post-8221","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-to-edit","8":"category-top-10","9":"category-water-habitat","10":"category-all","11":"tag-fish","12":"tag-top-ten"},"pp_force_visibility":null,"pp_subpost_visibility":null,"pp_inherited_force_visibility":null,"pp_inherited_subpost_visibility":null,"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.earthrangers.com\/EN\/CA\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8221","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.earthrangers.com\/EN\/CA\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.earthrangers.com\/EN\/CA\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.earthrangers.com\/EN\/CA\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.earthrangers.com\/EN\/CA\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8221"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.earthrangers.com\/EN\/CA\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8221\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":604961,"href":"https:\/\/www.earthrangers.com\/EN\/CA\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8221\/revisions\/604961"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.earthrangers.com\/EN\/CA\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/10605"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.earthrangers.com\/EN\/CA\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8221"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.earthrangers.com\/EN\/CA\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8221"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.earthrangers.com\/EN\/CA\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8221"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}