Freakiest and Weirdest Aquarium Fish

This is a sequel to my article entitled "Unique Aquatic Creatures: Rare but Attractive Aquarium Pets".

If you are looking for the most unusual and peculiar fish that can still be considered attractive for your

tanks here they are. They may look bizarre but they can still be considered beautiful in their own right.

Pick your choice.

Striated Frogfish (Antennarius striatus)

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The Striated Frogfish is one of the weirdest-looking creatures on earth but still many are seeking for

it as an aquarium pet. Though it has a very uncommon appearance it is commonly found in all subtropical

oceans, to depths of between 10 and 210 m. Its length is up to 25 cm.

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Twospot Turkeyfish (Dendrochirus biocellatus)

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The Twospot Turkeyfish as the name implies has some resemblance to a turkey. It is also commonly

known as Twinspot Lionfish or Fu Manchu Lionfish.

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This peculiar marine fish is also known as Dwarf Lionfish, a species of lionfish. It is also popular aquarium fish.

Psychedelic Frogfish (Histiophryne psychedelica)

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The Psychedelic Frogfish is named for its psychedelic pink and white stripes arranged in a fingerprint

pattern. The fish is from the waters near Ambon Island and Bali, Indonesia. This new and unusual frogfish

prefers to hop rather than swim. It has been found in coral rubble, where it may be camouflaged from

predators. The fish have so far been found in locations where the water is 5 m to 7 m (16 ft 5 in to 23 ft)

deep, about 20 m (65 ft 7 in) away from the shoreline.

Sargassumfish (Histrio histrio)

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The unique-looking Sargassumfish is scientifically named Histrio histrio which literally mean “the actor”.

It lives among sargassum weed (hence the name) which floats in subtropical oceans. This species could

grow to a length of up to 20 cm.

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Butler’s Frogfish (Tathicarpus butleri)

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The Butler’s Frogfish is one of the freakiest animals in the world in terms of physical appearance. Like the

Striated Frogfish, its entire body is densely covered with long hair-like objects. It is also called Blackspot

Anglerfish and considered a very rare species. It is found off the southern coast of New Guinea, and along

the coasts of Western Australia. It inhabits inshore tropical waters and coral reefs to a maximum depth of

145 meters (475 ft).

Strap-weed Filefish (Pseudomonacanthus macrurus)

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The Strap-weed Filefish is a moderate-looking fish, not so freak and not so pretty. It reaches a maximum

length of 18 cm. Strap-weed filefish are often found in pairs and inhabit reefs across the Indian Ocean and

Pacific Oceans.

Commerson’s Frogfish (Antennarius commerson)

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Giant Frogfish (Antennarius commersonii)

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These variants of Warty Frogfish or Antennarius maculatus below are also commonly called

Clown Frogfish.

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The picture below of a peculiar and unknown species of frogfish is taken under Seaventures Oil Rig

Platform in Mabul, Borneo.

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Hope you enjoyed this. Thank you!

For more exotic pets see

Unique Aquatic Creatures: Rare but Attractive Aquarium Pets

Pretty Aquatic Pets: 10 Most Beautiful Shrimps

Bizarre and Exotic Pets: Weird and Unique Turtles

Absolutely Freaky and Weird Frogs: Will You Have Them As Pets?

Popular Amphibian Pets: World's Most Beautiful Frogs

30 Most Colorful and Prettiest Pet Birds in the World

Brightly Colored Snails: Beautiful Aquarium Pets

Fantastic and Unique Breeds of Goldfish

(Bukisa ID #73587)

Content Source: Freakiest and Weirdest Aquarium Fish - Bukisa.com

Bizarre Bottom-dwelling Marine Creatures

There are hundreds of different species of sea creatures. Bottom dwelling animals are seen

only by divers. Ordinary people like me and you see them only through pictures brought to us

by underwater photographers. Before I continue further, I would like to say thank you to all scuba

divers and underwater photographers for their untiring effort to bring us images of bottom-dwelling

marine creatures.

Pancake Batfish (Halieutichthys aculeatus)

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The Pancake Batfish is a fish with unusual appearance –it is flat and resembles a pancake. It can be

found in the waters of western Atlantic, North Carolina, Gulf of Mexico and northern South America.

They inhabit a subtropical, sandy and reef-associated environment from 45 to 820 meters deep. They

live on the bottom, covered in sand.

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Roughback Batfish (Ogcocephalus parvu)

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The peculiar-looking Roughback Batfish is another bottom-dwelling creature sometimes referred to as

anglerfish. It is usually found in deep, lightless waters of the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Oceans. It looks

like a ray in some aspect with a large circular, triangular, or box-shaped head and a small tail. This bottom-

dwelling fish is mostly found depths between 200 m or 660 ft and 1,000 m or 3,300 ft.

Spotted Handfish (Brachionichthys hirsutus)

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The unique Spotted Handfish is a rare Australian fish classified as Critically Endangered. It is unusual in

that it has highly adapted pectoral fins, which appear like hands (hence the name) and allow it to walk on

the sea floor. It has a highly restricted territory, being found only in the estuary of Derwent River, Tasmania

and nearby areas.

Melibe mirifica

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A nudribranch or sea slug is known as one of the most colorful marine creatures. As the common saying

goes, there’s an exemption in every rule and one of this is Melibe mirifica, a species of dull-colored sea slug.

It is one of the few, if not the only, dull-colored sea slugs and definitely the ugliest amongst nudribranch.

Red-lipped Batfish (Ogcocephalus darwini)

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Another peculiar-looking bottom-dweller is the Red-lipped Batfish. It is an unusual looking fish found

on the Galapagos Islands. Red-lipped batfish are closely related to Rosy-lipped Batfish. Both fish species

look and behave very similarly to one another. Batfish are not good swimmers; they use their pectoral

fins to “walk” on the ocean floor. When the batfish reaches adulthood, its dorsal fin becomes a single

spine-like projection that lures prey.

Rosy-lipped Batfish (Ogcocephalus porrectus)

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I think this bottom-dweller is the muse of the ocean floor. The lovely-looking Rosy-lipped Batfish can be

found in Cocos Island off the coast of Costa Rica. It is similar in appearance to the Red-lipped Batfish

which is found in the nearby Galapagos Islands.

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This one is wearing a lighter shade of lipstick!

Scallop Ribbonfish (Zu cristatus)

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The Scalloped Ribbonfish with distinctively unusual mouth and long tail is found circumglobally in all

oceans, at depths down to 90 meters. This species of fish can grow to a length of up to 118 centimeters.

Bat Ray (Myliobatis californica)

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This ray is commonly called Bat Ray but it is actually an eagle ray, quite confusing, whew! It is found in

muddy or sandy sloughs, estuaries and bays, kelp beds and rocky-bottomed shoreline in the eastern

Pacific Ocean, between the Oregon coast and the Gulf of California, hence the scientific name.. It is also

found in the area around the Galapagos Islands. It can grow to a wingspan of 1.8 m and up and a mass of

91 kg and up.

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It has a venomous spine in its tail but it is not considered dangerous because it uses the spine only

when attacked or frightened. Currently, the bat ray is fished commercially in Mexico. Bat rays are not

considered endangered or threatened. Bat Rays now are popular in marine parks, and visitors are often

allowed to touch or stroke the ray, usually on the wing.

Starry Handfish (Halieutaea stellata)

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The odd-looking Starry Handfish or Halieutaea stellata is a batfish species found on the continental shelves

of the Indian Ocean and Pacific Ocean. It is usually found at depths of between 50 and 400 meters. This

bizarre sea creature can grow up to 30 centimeters long.

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Bombay Duck (Harpadon nehereus)

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This marine animal is not only unusual in appearance but it is also has an unusual name. It is called

Bombay Duck but in reality it’s a lizardfish, whew, quite misleading! Other names for this fish include

Bummalo, Bamaloh, Loita, Bumla and Bombil. It is native to the waters of Mumbai (formerly Bombay),

Kutch in the Arabian Sea, the Bay of Bengal and China Sea. It has a longer lower jaw. It is often dried

and salted before it is consumed. After drying, the odor of the fish is extremely powerful, and it must

consequently be transported in air-tight containers.

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Shortnose Batfish (Ogcocephalus nasutus)

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Batfish like this Shortnose Batfish is related to anglerfish and like the anglers it uses a fleshy appendage

on its head to lure in victims. It preys on bottom-dwelling invertebrates. It lives on the bottom, covered in

sand. The bat fish uses its highly modified pelvic and anal fins to "walk" along the bottom slowly. They inhabit

the Western Atlantic sticking primarily to sand and silt beds.

Brazilian Batfish (Ogcocephalus vespertilio)

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The Brazilian Batfish or Ogcocephalus vespertilio can be found in the western Atlantic, in the Antilles

and in Brazil. It preys on bottom-dwelling invertebrates and lives on the bottom, usually covered in sand.

Hope you enjoyed this. Thank you!

For more bizarre and amazing sea creatures see

25 Amazing and Bizarre Deep Sea Creatures

Bizarre and Unique Marine Animals

Unique Aquatic Creatures: Rare but Attractive Aquarium Pets

Chitons: Unique and Colorful Sea Creatures

World’s Most Brightly Colored Fishes

Spirobranchus Giganteus: Seabed’s Delightful Sites in Connection with Christmas

10 Amazing Sea Creatures

Giant Creatures of the Deep-Sea

Beauty and the Beast: 20 Most Venomous Fishes in the World

Amazing Flying Sea Creatures

Waterworld Creatures With Wings

Aquatic Animals with the Most Prominent and Longest Snouts

(Bukisa ID #72382)

Content Source: Bizarre Bottom-dwelling Marine Creatures - Bukisa.com

Fantastic and Bizarre Breeds of Pigeons

Pigeons are popular domestic and pet birds. Domesticated pigeons are birds having a heavy body and short legs. They have been bred for hundred years already producing some peculiar and unique breeds or fancy pigeon. Here's a list of the most unique-looking breeds of pigeon in the world.

1. Jacobin Pigeon

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Hey, where is your face? Show me your face, come on! The Jacobin is definitely one of the weirdest-looking breed of fancy pigeon. The breed is known for its feathered hood over its head.

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2. Frillback Pigeon

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This unique pigeon called Frillback is a breed of fancy pigeon developed over many years of selective breeding. The breed is known for the frill or curls on the wing shield feathers. The feather curl is also present at the ends of the foot feathers or muffs.

3. Chinese Owl

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Well, it is very obvious that this breed of fancy pigeon called the Chinese Owl is named for its resemblance to an owl. This pigeon is known for its relatively small size and profuse frilled feathers

4. Barb Pigeon

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The peculiar breed of fancy pigeon called Barb is also called the English Barb. This breed was referred to by Shakespeare. It was also referred to with an illustration in Charles Darwin's Variation of Animals and Plants under Domestication.

5. Old German Cropper

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The head of the Old German Cropper, a breed of fancy pigeon developed over many years of selective breeding, is covered entirely with feather making it hard to locate it. It appears to me like a headless freak.

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6. Ghent Cropper

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The feet of the good-looking Ghent Cropper are covered with feathers called muff. This beautifully colored pigeon is a breed of fancy pigeon developed over many years of selective breeding.

7. English Trumpeter

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The odd-looking English Trumpeter is one of the most popular breeds in the USA. The English Trumpeter is regarded as one of the most ornamental breeds of fancy pigeon. Combining a tuft, crest and large muffs on their feet, they are challenging to breed. They are bred in a number of colors which are listed under self, splash and baldhead. The name is misleading, as this breed as known today is an American creation.

8. Reversewing Pouter

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Like the Ghent Cropper, the feet of the Reversewing Pouter are covered with large muffs. This pigeon is also known for its eye-catching markings. The breed originated in Saxony and Thuringia in the early 1800's.

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9. Pigmy Pouter

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Compared to common pigeons, the Pigmy Pouter, another breed of fancy pigeon that was developed over many years of selective breeding, it looks like a basketball player playing as a center and towering in the basketball court like Abdul Jabar.

10. Old Dutch Capuchine

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The Old Dutch Capuchine looks similar to fancy-looking Jacobin. They both have feathered hood over their head. It is also a breed of fancy pigeon.

11. Norwich Cropper

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The weird-looking Norwich Cropper is a breed of fancy pigeon that originated from the Netherlands. It is thought to have been developed from a breed called the Oploper.

12. Bokhara Trumpeter

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The almost all-black Bokhara Trumpeter is known for its long muffed (feathered) feet and double crests which completely obscures the bird's eyes. It is one of the most popular breeds of Trumpeter in the US. This trumpeting breed of pigeon is so named because of its unique vocalizations which sound vaguely like low laughter.

13. English Pouter

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The lengthy-looking English Pouter has few muffs on its feet and considered one of the oldest breeds of pigeon in the world. Record shows that it had been bred from the 1730.s.

14. Lahore Pigeon

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The handsome Lahore is known for its impressive size and gentle nature. For a very long time this bird was bred in the present area of Lahore, Pakistan, hence the common name. It was imported into Germany around 1880 and became popular among pigeon enthusiasts at the beginning of the 1960's. These ornamental pigeons were once bred for their meat, but today they are raised for their beautiful plumage and colorful patterns. Their calm and gentle natures also make them delightfully tame pets.

15. Brunner Pouter

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The peculiar-looking Brunner Pouter, a breed of fancy pigeon is one of the most popular blower breeds in the world.

16. Saxon Fairy Swallow

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The Saxon Fairy Swallow will immediately be notice for its exceptionally large muffs. It also has various markings and patterns spot marking.

17. English Carrier

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The English Carrier was developed in England and it is regarded as the largest of the flying pigeon breeds. It was originally used for sending messages. Today, it is strictly a show pigeon, having been supplanted by the Racing Homer years ago. The homing ability of the Carrier has long ago ceased development. It is typically about 18 inches in height, with a long, slender body and thick wattle.

It is important to note that all domesticated pigeons are descendant from the Rock Pigeons, scientifically called Columbia liva.

Hope you enjoyed this. Thank you!

For related articles see

Bizarre Breeds of Chicken

30 Most Colorful and Prettiest Pet Birds in the World

(Bukisa ID #76943)

Content Source: Fantastic and Bizarre Breeds of Pigeons - Bukisa.com