Psychrolute

The psychrolute, belonging to the genus *Psychrolutes*, is a deep-sea fish known for its gelatinous, flabby body, often lacking swim bladders, enabling it to withstand the extreme pressures of the deep ocean. Its unusual appearance, often described as 'blobfish-like,' is an adaptation to its abyssal habitat, allowing it to maintain neutral buoyancy. The psychrolute primarily feeds on small crustaceans and other invertebrates found on the ocean floor, utilizing a passive feeding strategy. They're vulnerable to trawling nets, and are an important part of the ecosystem. They are often found near Australia, New Zealand, and Tasmania.

Psychrolute meaning with examples

• Scientists deployed a remote operated vehicle and saw a psychrolute leisurely floating just above the seafloor. Its gelatinous body, barely denser than water, allowed it to navigate effortlessly. It was not actively hunting but slowly digesting anything that came its way.
• The grotesque appearance of the psychrolute, so unique to its environment, captured the public's attention after a 2013 vote deemed it the 'world's ugliest animal'. Its flabby form, a stark contrast to the more streamlined forms of shallower water, immediately made it stand out.
• Deep-sea trawling nets, however, pose a significant threat to the psychrolute population, accidentally catching these vulnerable fish along with other targeted species. They’re unable to flee, making them an easy target.
• The psychrolute's diet primarily consists of organic debris and slow-moving invertebrates it finds in the ocean's dark depths. Their slow metabolism also reduces the amount they need to eat. They are a keystone species.
• To survive in such harsh environments, psychrolutes have a body primarily composed of gelatinous material. The ocean’s high pressure and low oxygen would not allow them to thrive with a bony skeleton.