Oft have I wondered what horrors of the sea lie beneath; mythic titans clashing with the beasts and leviathans of mariners' lore. Little did I know that the world's un-funniest comic strip character was there boring the living shit out of every sperm whale and giant squid in sight. Indeed, truth is stranger than fiction.
A Fathead (genus Psychrolutes) trawled during the NORFANZ expedition at a depth between 1013 m and 1340 m, on the Norfolk Ridge, north-west of New Zealand, June 2003 (AMS I.42771-001). Photo: K. Parkinson © Australian Museum. The scientists and crew on board the RV Tangaroa affectionately called this fish 'Mr Blobby'. Note the parasitic copepod on Mr Blobby's mouth.
