BlobfishBy: Ji Min Lee Classification Domain: Eukarya Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Actinopterygii Order: Scorpaeniformes Family: Psycholutidae Genus: Psychrolutes Species: P. Marcidus Circulatory System One main circuit: from heart to gills-for oxygen and to release carbon dioxide-to cells; closed system (vessels and loop- blood flow returns to heart to continue) 2 chamber heart: 1 atrium (receiving) and 1 ventricle (pumping) Temperature: is cold blooded=low body temperature, polikilotherm=body temperature varies (may fluctuate based on environmental temperature change), & ectothermic=gets heat through environment *Simple diagram of fish digestive syste Digestive System Very small digestive system compared to other fish-few digestive organs because small amount of food eaten doesn’t require a complex digestive system Process similar to other fish (simplified): mouth captures food and food usually swallowed whole- the food goes down the esophagus to the stomach where the food is digested, then digested food sent into the blobfish’s intestine-nutrients and water from food absorbed and sent to cells in body, left over waste is excreted through the anus Reproductive System External Fertilization: both sperm and eggs released into an external environment, sperm will fertilize the egg outside of the organism Sexual Reproduction: female gamete and male gamete fuse to form zygote (which develops to an organism genetically different from parents) Oviparous: eggs deposited outside of female, which develops and hatch (outside the female body) Female lays 9,000~108,000 small pink eggs, male or female blobfish float above or sit on their eggs to protect them Integumentary System No scales-exterior is all fatty tissue Jelly like skin (gelatinous)-to live in high pressure and float around more easily No hair Skin has toxic slime Adaptations No Muscle-to float around for food and conserve energy Less dense than water-to easily float around for food No gas bladder (organ to keep fish afloat in water)-to stay in twilight zone and wait around for food Have backbone (so bilateral symmetry) but not other bones-to weigh less Ancestors Come from the psychrolutes genus in the psychrolutidae family (fatheads) Little info but thought to have broken away from larger fish who lived close to water surface and had bones Common Behaviors Remain stationary throughout it’s life: float in same spot waiting for meal Female blobfish stay in groups and remain immobile until the eggs hatch (females nest near each other for protection and easy access to mates for their children) Female (or male if female isn’t around) blobfish float above or sit on their eggs to protect them Habitat Waters of New Zealand, Australia, and Tasmania In twilight zones (Mesopelagic): depth of 200 to 1000 meters (660 to 3300 feet) below the ocean surface, high pressure (up to 1470 psi), poorly lit-dark blue or black color, cold (39 to 41 degrees F) Eat Eats sea urchins, mollusks, crab, lobster, slow moving bottom feeders, crustaceans, and anything smaller than them that is close to their mouth (like zooplankton) Is an omnivore-eats anything near it’s mouth Natural Predators No known natural predators-human disturbance the greatest threat Blobfish-trophic level 4 (omnivore- Food Web tertiary consumer) Crab- trophic level 3 (omnivore - secondary consumer ) Mollusk- trophic level 2 (herbivore- primary consumer) Sea Urchin- trophic level 2 Algae-trophic (herbivore- level 1 primary (producer) consumer) Niche Like garbage disposal- eat anything smaller than it floating around it’s mouth Maintains population of small deep sea creatures-make sure they don’t overpopulate Disturbance Deep ocean trawling: nets by humans catch blob fish (bycatch), inedible because of toxic slime around them Listed as endangered species-humans are the only known threat (no known natural predators), may possibly be extinct Species Native: stay in habitat (twilight zone of Australia, New Zealand, and Tasmania) because they die once they are removed- removal from twilight zone pressure makes it’s body blob like, removal from water causes it’s body to dry out and shrivel Not an invasive species-aren’t alien species and don’t disrupt biodiversity (do not kill off native species-even if they could be placed in another habitat, they eat by floating and couldn’t threaten the native species there) 5 Interesting Facts Considered ugliest animal in the world The flap of skin that hangs over the lips of the blobfish (looks like nose) is not a nose, it’s just skin Head is 1/3 of total body weight Thought to live to an average of 130 years because of extremely slow growth and reproduction rates-caused by the cold temperature, little food supply, low oxygen and low light levels of the twilight zone Can move mouth without muscles