At least in the beginning, the blob is based on the blobfish, which lives deep underwater near Australia and New Zealand.

A New Zealand-based nonprofit announced the blobfish as the winner of its "Fish of the Year" vote, years after it was named the world's ugliest animal.

New Zealand's Mountains to Sea Conservation Trust announced the Fish of the Year 2025 competition was won by the blobfish, a species once voted the "world's ugliest animal." ...

the blob is based on the blobfish, which lives deep underwater near Australia and New Zealand and has frequently been called the world’s “ugliest fish,” although that’s largely based on ...