Melbourne, Sep 13 (IANS): The Australian blobfish was declared the world's ugliest animal in 2013 British Science Festival, local media ABC news reported Friday.

The event was hosted by the British Science Association in Newcastle, north eastern England, reported Xinhua.

In an online poll, the blobfish was voted as the new mascot of the British-based Ugly Animal Preservation Society, which aims to protect the world's weird but endangered species. Of over 3,000 ballots, the blobfish earned 795 votes.

The blobfish lives at depths of around 600-1,200 metres where the pressure is much higher than sea level, and can grow up to 12 inches in length.

The blobfish lives off the coast of south-eastern Australia and Tasmania. Fishers often accidentally capture it in their nets, diminishing the size of the blobfish population.

The campaign aims at raising public awareness of endangered but ill-favoured species which play an important role in the ecological web.

New Zealand's Kakapo, a rare flightless owl-like parrot, and the Axolotl, a Mexican amphibian also called the "walking fish", were also voted second and the third for being ugliest.