By Sara Thompson
Image credit: Tim Evanson, obtained from Wikimedia Commons
Special to the Enterprise
Oarfish are some of the most elusive and mysterious fish on the planet. There are only three species of oarfish, and they are the longest bony fish alive today. The giant oarfish can grow up to 26 feet in length. Their elongated bodied and large eyes may have been what inspired tales of sea serpents with sailors.
Other than their elongated bodies, oarfish boast other distinguishing features as well. Instead of a dorsal fin, they have fin rays that form a line along their backs. Some have up to 400 dorsal fin rays, with the first dozen or so, depending on species, are longer than the others. Undulation of the dorsal fin rays, along with tail movements, is how the oarfish propel themselves through the water. Their heads have large eyes, likely used for seeing in dark ocean depths, and their mouth has no visible teeth, but can extend when opened, a feature many fish have for catching prey quickly. Their skin does not have scales but is covered by another mineralized tissue called ganoine. Along the silvery sides, oarfish can also have dark colored streaks, dots, or squiggles of blue or black. These markings fade quickly after the animal passes away leading scientists to believe they may be bioluminescent.
Oarfish are typically found in warm, tropical and subtropical waters worldwide. One of the reasons oarfish are so elusive is due to where they live. Oarfish are deep sea fish and live between the epipelagic and mesopelagic zones of the ocean at depths between 650-3300 feet. There are fewer currents the deeper into the ocean one goes, causing the oarfish to struggle in turbulent waters at the surface.
Oarfish have been observed swimming vertically, using light from the ocean’s surface to silhouette their prey. They use their extendible mouths to feed on zooplankton, and perhaps other small fish, shrimp, squid, and crustaceans. It is unknown exactly what preys upon oarfish, but most large carnivores of the open ocean would be capable. Due to researching parasite transmission between oceanic species, shortfin mako shark and sperm whales are the most likely. Even though they can be caught alive, their flesh has a gelatinous consistency and is not considered pleasant for human consumption.
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