Oarfish


 * Basic Information**

**Oarfish** are large, very long, fishes of the small family of **Regalecidae.** Found in all oceans yet rarely seen, the oarfish family contains four species. One of these, the oarfish, is listed in the // Guinness Book of World Records // as the longest bony fish alive, at up to 56 ft in length. The family name //Regalecidae// is derived from the Latin word //regalis//, meaning "royal". The occasional beachings of oarfish after storms, and their habit of lingering at the surface when sick or dying, make oarfish the source of many sea serpent tales. Although the larger species are considered game fish and are fished commercially, oarfish are rarely caught alive; their flesh is not eaten a lot due to their gelatin like body.

**Body Structure** The oarfish's dorsal fin starts from the eyes and runs the entire length of the fish. Of the 400 dorsal fin rays, the first 10 to 12 form a trailing crest with reddish spots and flaps of skin at the ray tips. Like other members of its family, the oarfish has a small mouth with no visible teeth. The body is scaleless and the skin covered with shiny skin. Oarfish color varies; the flanks are commonly covered with irregular bluish to blackish streaks, black dots, and squiggles. These markings quickly fade after they die. The oarfish is by far the largest member of the family at a total length of 60 ft. and up to 605 pounds in weight. Most of its family members like the streamer fish can only grow up to 10 feet in length.

** Feeding Habits **

Oarfish feed on zooplankton, shrimp and other crustaceans from the water. Small fish, jellyfish and squid are also eaten. Large ocean carnivores are all predators of oarfish.

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