30 Ugly Fish We Can't Stop Looking At
![Sea raven ugly fish](https://thumbor.bigedition.com/sea-raven-ugly-fish/7RNAfjY9cLsvbo7cpUq0v0Egm6g=/104x0:1219x836/800x0/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/77/ec/77ec0029d07341938af18fbfa97c9fc0.jpeg)
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'
![Close up of a Wolffish](https://thumbor.bigedition.com/close-up-of-a-wolffish/Qo35qtyqMaYOtAG_kwRsst8izdQ=/0x0:1183x887/800x0/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/e9/b5/e9b51eeaf3e249dcbf9a730feb5256bb.jpeg)
Fish type: Wolffish
Dude, Relax
![Whitemargin Stargazer buried in Black Sand](https://thumbor.bigedition.com/whitemargin-stargazer-buried-in-black-sand/jkckf-z4q1DxbSeznDZupzJhZJQ=/28x0:1143x836/800x0/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/c7/a8/c7a81db54bac45b385506169fb07c942.jpeg)
Fish type: Whitemargin Stargaze
Looks Like an Ankle Biter
![Deep sea anglerfish](https://thumbor.bigedition.com/deep-sea-anglerfish/RSHlhmlpn24Z4AEXHo3NMMQMVuE=/66x0:1133x800/800x0/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/87/9c/879c73124a3c4a18b09cb868608e236a.jpeg)
Fish type: Deep Sea Anglerfish
That's 1 Ton of Ugly Fish
![Mola Mola](https://thumbor.bigedition.com/mola-mola/0k9BjDS-vEiKwmsHIblyCPycsds=/0x14:720x555/720x0/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/89/f8/89f8e3a1015c4b478ba8b1c4183dab60.jpeg)
Fish type: Mola Mola
Chicken Nugget of the Sea
![Young Hispid Frogfish](https://thumbor.bigedition.com/young-hispid-frogfish/7qb1s4qX7h1OF8VJJcMikfGabEM=/69x0:1184x836/800x0/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/ad/d8/add8739a81c743e0a98d2553ddf3224f.jpeg)
Fish Type: Hispid Frogfish
You Mad, Bro?
![Sea Raven](https://thumbor.bigedition.com/sea-raven/wCD-oCXcPdtPneVWC1vrA2P7Lng=/139x0:1254x836/800x0/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/9c/5e/9c5ea2d1e56c4254ac737437ef4feaba.jpeg)
Fish type: Sea Raven
Don't Mess With Those Whiskers
![Catfish](https://thumbor.bigedition.com/catfish/ZMMGAF_beWgpFJ_pgOv3DRSH7C8=/73x0:1155x811/800x0/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/ed/95/ed9558e332004dd9b96c48455fdd306a.jpeg)
Fish type: Catfish
At Least They Have Each Other
![Couple Of Bumphead Parrotfish](https://thumbor.bigedition.com/couple-of-bumphead-parrotfish/JBY1-neF7TpL1c8qCyTBQlecW54=/103x0:1218x836/800x0/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/09/6f/096f9d5a227d4e83adf492dc5fa79e15.jpeg)
Fish type: Bumphead Parrotfish
Ugly or Just Downright Terrifying?!
![Gulper Eel](https://thumbor.bigedition.com/gulper-eel/y4IHlmhsG_N5nWu-w8XAaPQ2Byo=/80x0:560x360/480x0/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/a6/98/a6984e7de24949f787f671c71b54bbc4.png)
Fish type: Gulper Eeel
A Face Only a Mother Could Love
![Sloane's Viperfish](https://thumbor.bigedition.com/sloanes-viperfish/JjbeMovVNytdRMxyFSEIWJoFmCw=/25x0:599x430/573x0/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/32/af/32af18925cdc40428df7f86fde6239bc.jpeg)
Fish type: Sloane's Viperfish
What Shade of Lipstick Is That?
![Red lipped batfish](https://thumbor.bigedition.com/red-lipped-batfish/7AjT4pPZtCZjqzdupHVJo6u-ir4=/139x0:1254x836/800x0/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/3c/1d/3c1db7d04517477d85836a0e0d9c351f.jpeg)
Fish type: Red-Lipped Batfish
Voted 'World's Ugliest Animal'
![Blobfish](https://thumbor.bigedition.com/blobfish/traXRd3aVkxsS6LIZzgVeI8uPPY=/132x56:996x704/800x0/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/b1/98/b198e287df9d403aa31685d80111e890.jpeg)
Fish type: Blobfish
What Nightmares Are Made Of
![Goblin Shark](https://thumbor.bigedition.com/goblin-shark/U-zlAmDOhKaMpRwQIRM95b5zljI=/34x0:515x360/480x0/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/0e/7a/0e7a1c0eeb244394a21b5f660c632926.jpeg)
Fish type: Goblin Shark
The Pink Color Helps
![Asian Sheepshead Wrasse](https://thumbor.bigedition.com/asian-sheepshead-wrasse/YklKpRWC1Q08OP8q8ZfP_Ru4p_g=/52x0:1166x835/800x0/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/07/ba/07babfdda6d942eba5b419d0fca6e666.jpeg)
Fish type: Asian Sheepshead Wrasse
Could Use a Facial
![Monkfish](https://thumbor.bigedition.com/monkfish/DsROg9vqiW6eKp0KO1VLB4sqBO4=/69x0:1184x836/800x0/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/b6/ef/b6ef047c36f34a638b3a15fd78dc1a43.jpeg)
Fish type: Monkfish
Flesh-Eating Nightmare
![Piranha](https://thumbor.bigedition.com/piranha/URaPO38zvEWoCK7xHw_27HJSOcY=/98x0:1213x836/800x0/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/10/3a/103ae8792e254327871965a0af9d84c6.jpeg)
Fish type: Piranha
Turn That Frown Upside Down
![Barracuda](https://thumbor.bigedition.com/barracuda/kC_Q2wb8BrXwBCSbrqDwx2QMXsw=/133x0:1241x831/800x0/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/b8/5f/b85f2478d62d49b5aa341da462a4ca28.jpeg)
Fish type: Barracuda
Needs a Tissue
![Illuminated Netdevil](https://thumbor.bigedition.com/illuminated-netdevil/PLwS_JynykS_IAKESBsb5lJ90bU=/4x29:393x320/388x0/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/15/60/1560bb5777a74389bd10bd0e5f3d5fb8.jpeg)
Fish type: Illuminated Netdevil
Staring Into the Abyss
![Monster Grouper](https://thumbor.bigedition.com/monster-grouper/PwEhfYqL70-VMHunPqs3FNzgMEc=/0x0:1183x887/800x0/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/7c/dd/7cdd460915e4448482e63af7fc2bddf7.jpeg)
Fish type: Monster Grouper
A Big, Sad Rock
![Stonefish](https://thumbor.bigedition.com/stonefish/IB-MyRD9XwUc6WFtN4ucYHnCArg=/800x0/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/6a/26/6a26720293e14a94b1208ac516433330.jpeg)
Fish type: Stonefish
Needs a Tan
![Grey Giant Frogfish](https://thumbor.bigedition.com/grey-giant-frogfish/iBitrAUcShb2OkYKIIomOtB4bfQ=/139x0:1254x836/800x0/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/10/38/1038b71d9a494d49af5ca480c6c3bda6.jpeg)
Fish type: Grey Giant Frogfish
A Prehistoric Monster
![Frillshark](https://thumbor.bigedition.com/frillshark/iogUklCx7ZJOe2OhbcJijaijgdE=/0x0:400x300/400x0/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/e7/e4/e7e4a928e3ba482b8ac122b557538bba.jpeg)
Fish type: Frillshark
Is This Even a Fish?
![Sea Pig](https://thumbor.bigedition.com/sea-pig/XVOasuiWVgM_URbfNFQrlH7e7Hc=/200x0:1400x900/800x0/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/5a/da/5ada7b942dc7452d92dd2f3a1d57ec9f.jpeg)
Fish type: Sea Pig
So Ugly It's Kinda Cute
![Lumpfish](https://thumbor.bigedition.com/lumpfish/7BKdm6k4COcBYVM2-lQV5WBVdNo=/800x0/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/82/7b/827b668f497742f78115a9f9bd8e7c11.jpeg)
Fish type: Lumpfish
Could Use a Trim
![Hairy Frogfish](https://thumbor.bigedition.com/hairy-frogfish/SVuan4psMsiEEhpnFC7bDvGGwhc=/69x0:1184x836/800x0/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/6c/67/6c672d79925c4767990cdbcb4a893f7d.jpeg)
Fish type: Hairy Frogfish
Overgrown Tadpole?
![Boney Earred Assfish](https://thumbor.bigedition.com/boney-earred-assfish/Pd04csbCvZ-JCVcZGR5QnjzcDio=/0x0:1197x898/800x0/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/2d/08/2d083a6980e2435fa19eee5e496fa180.jpeg)
Fish type: Boney-Eared Assfish
Might Eat Your Soul
![Ancistrus](https://thumbor.bigedition.com/ancistrus/hVAJzRNEB9WVDgmy7aB0i2RzziA=/0x0:1183x887/800x0/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/5d/6a/5d6a926e27bc43d4a109c71cd84baf52.jpeg)
Fish type: Ancistrus
Grumpy Fish
![Spotted Handfish](https://thumbor.bigedition.com/spotted-handfish/aTNlPY0IWoNw6mhpc9Kq8HnboO0=/0x0:1115x836/800x0/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/6e/70/6e709f5f7eb74915914327f73f91c729.jpeg)
Fish type: Spotted Handfish
Poisonous Predator
![Ambon Scorpionfish](https://thumbor.bigedition.com/ambon-scorpionfish/vsoEHZ6L0SvOR3jJUv6RbMAvEPM=/800x0/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/5c/ee/5cee6ba859724c0d974d1b970d4e4872.jpeg)
Fish type: Ambon Scorpionfish
Ugly Tunnel to We Don't Want to Know
![Sea lamprey](https://thumbor.bigedition.com/sea-lamprey/JHVs3F10a5M6p2HE4mqShKho6Uw=/800x0/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/d5/76/d5768ee05c1f4ff58613d75f847281c1.jpeg)
Fish type: Sea lamprey