Viral Video of 'Ugliest Fish' Long-nosed Stargazer Scares Netizens and Onlookers

A terrifying and ugly fish was found washed ashore on a Singapore beach, leaving people baffled and scared of its bizarre appearance.

The ugly fish, a long-nosed stargazer, was discovered buried in the sand with its face up in shallow water. It appeared to peer towards the sky with its open mouth.

Terrifying 'Ugly Fish' Goes Viral

A post shared by instagram

The discovery was shared by Dennis Chan, a lead facilitator and specialized wildlife guide for The Untamed Paths, in an Instagram clip that has gone viral. As of Monday morning, it was able to garner up to 1.2 million likes and 53.3 million views.

The specialized wildlife guide was able to snap footage of the ugly fish from different angles and perspectives. In each one, the fish was apparently looking towards the sky until it appeared to begin gulping water and burrowing itself deeper into the sand.

This discovery came as Chan and his adventurist group embarked on an intertidal exploration journey to learn more about the area's marine inhabitants and coastal ecology. Initially, they were on the lookout for bivalves, echinoderms, and crustaceans. It was then that they were able to stumble upon the long-nosed.

Chan explained that the sight was fascinating and uncommon. He noted that upon seeing the fish, he felt elated and excited, as it was his first time encountering one in the country.

However, viewers of the clip were left disturbed and terrified by the bizarre discovery. One person said, "Unfind it," while another commented, not despising an animal in the past until this one.

Another commenter shared that the creature was their "sleep paralysis demon." Someone also declared hating the fish.

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Longnosed Stargazer

These fish bury their bodies in the sand, exposing just their heads. They seem to gaze at the stars as they await prey.

These fish are also similar to scorpion fish and stonefish, implying that they also have venomous spines that may sting painfully. However, Chan says that there is no reason to be scared of it.

He noted that these creatures that dwell around them should not be seen as feared, unwanted, or ugly.

There are over 50 stargazer species that can be found in the Pacific, Indian, and Atlantic oceans. One specific genus of stargazers, the Astroscopus, is also known to have electricity-producing organs.

The odd fish can also be spotted at times on Singapore's northern shores. They typically bury themselves in the sand with their popping eyeballs bulging out.

These fish can span up to 30 centimeters in length and make use of their lip filaments to catch and lure unsuspecting prey. These prey may include squids, octopuses, and fish that pass by.

Their massive mouth also faces upwards and is positioned to be a permanent frown. The species can be identified by its nostrils, which are diagonally elongated.