World’s ugliest animal ‘honour’ goes to the blobfish

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http://www.todayonline.com/world/quirky-world/worlds-ugliest-animal-honour-goes-blobfish

Rare marine creature, the blobfish (Psychrolutes marcidus), has been voted the world’s ugliest animal, beating 11 other contenders such as the proboscis monkey and the kakapo.

More than 3,000 votes were cast in the online competition, with 795 going to the blobfish.

The campaign, run by the Ugly Animal Preservation Society to decide its new mascot, was set up to raise awareness for endangered and aesthetically challenged animals. With 200 species becoming extinct every day, it says ugly animals need more help because of their less than “pin-up” appearance.

“We’ve needed an ugly face for endangered animals for a long time and I’ve been amazed by the public’s reaction. For too long the cute and fluffy animals have taken the limelight, but now the blobfish will be a voice for the mingers who always get forgotten,” said Mr Simon Watt, the society’s president.

The species, which lives off the coast of south-eastern Australia and Tasmania, is under significant threat from fishing trawlers that accidentally capture it in their nets. “Some would describe it as a bit ugly, but I think the sad face of the blobfish belies a kind and very wise little brain in there,” said Mr Foot.

The YouTube videos for the ugly animals have had around 88,000 views in total.