Cousin of ugliest fish hauled up from abyss

SYDNEY - More than 100 rarely seen fish species were hauled up from a deep and cold abyss off Australia during a scientific voyage, researchers said on Wednesday, including a cousin of the "world's ugliest animal" Mr. Blobby.

Scientists spent a month last year on a vessel off the country's eastern seaboard surveying life lurking up to 4.8 kilometers below the surface, using nets, sonar and deep-sea cameras.

Over 42,000 fish and invertebrates were caught, some of which are potentially new species with scientists gathering in the Tasmanian capital Hobart this week to examine them more closely.