GIANT OARFISH

Regalecus glesne

This deceptive fish is believed to live in the tropical regions of the ocean. They are extremely shy creatures and are scarcely seen. Most specimens have been found washed up on beaches and rocks. They are the longest bony fish in the world, measuring 40 Ft (13 M) long. There have been unconfirmed reports of fish reaching over 50 Ft (16 M.) The body is ribbon like and a glistening silver. The oarfish has no scales. The dorsal fin stretches through the entire body and spines upward at the head. The fish’s diet is unknown. However, it has no teeth making it an unlikely predator.

Many people agree that the oarfish may be a source of Sea Serpent myths (I would be fairly terrified myself.) The oarfish has been listed as ‘Least Concern’ on the IUCN Red List, although, the oarfish has been a victim of Bycatch. The oarfish is commonly seen after earthquakes near the sea. I predict that if they live closer to the seabed and are affected by the vibrations, that they would quickly swim upward to evade the earthquake. Vibrations are even known to travel better and are more violent underwater. Because water has a higher drag than air, an animal has less freedom to move and is more likely to be injured by shock.