30 Ugly Fish We Can't Stop Looking At
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Let's be honest for a minute. Fish make up some of the oddest-looking creatures out there. That's likely because they were the first vertebrates, originating more than 500 million years ago. And, unlike humans or other mammals, fish still look very similar to their prehistoric ancestors.
Of course, there are fish species that are beautifully colored or have fins that look like flowing feathers, but then there are the other fish. The ones with pouty faces or ones with skin that mimics that of the dreariest depths of the Atlantic Ocean. We're talking about the ugly fish. The ones only a mother could love.
These fish are, at times, frightening in an effort to attract prey. While, other times, they're just plain goofy — so much so that the "Pout-Pout Fish" children's book series was inspired by one. So, which are the ugliest fish in the world? Check out these 30 that are so ugly we honestly can't stop staring.
Divers Call This Fish the 'Cat of the Sea'
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Fish type: Wolffish
Dude, Relax
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Fish type: Whitemargin Stargaze
Looks Like an Ankle Biter
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Fish type: Deep Sea Anglerfish
That's 1 Ton of Ugly Fish
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Fish type: Mola Mola
Chicken Nugget of the Sea
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Fish Type: Hispid Frogfish
You Mad, Bro?
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Fish type: Sea Raven
Don't Mess With Those Whiskers
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Fish type: Catfish
At Least They Have Each Other
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Fish type: Bumphead Parrotfish
Ugly or Just Downright Terrifying?!
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Fish type: Gulper Eeel
A Face Only a Mother Could Love
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Fish type: Sloane's Viperfish
What Shade of Lipstick Is That?
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Fish type: Red-Lipped Batfish
Voted 'World's Ugliest Animal'
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Fish type: Blobfish
What Nightmares Are Made Of
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Fish type: Goblin Shark
The Pink Color Helps
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Fish type: Asian Sheepshead Wrasse
Could Use a Facial
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Fish type: Monkfish
Flesh-Eating Nightmare
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Fish type: Piranha
Turn That Frown Upside Down
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Fish type: Barracuda
Needs a Tissue
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Fish type: Illuminated Netdevil
Staring Into the Abyss
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Fish type: Monster Grouper
A Big, Sad Rock
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Fish type: Stonefish
Needs a Tan
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Fish type: Grey Giant Frogfish
A Prehistoric Monster
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Fish type: Frillshark
Is This Even a Fish?
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Fish type: Sea Pig
So Ugly It's Kinda Cute
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Fish type: Lumpfish
Could Use a Trim
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Fish type: Hairy Frogfish
Overgrown Tadpole?
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Fish type: Boney-Eared Assfish
Might Eat Your Soul
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Fish type: Ancistrus
Grumpy Fish
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Fish type: Spotted Handfish
Poisonous Predator
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Fish type: Ambon Scorpionfish
Ugly Tunnel to We Don't Want to Know
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Fish type: Sea lamprey