The occasional beachings of oarfish after storms, and their habit of lingering at the surface when sick or dying, have given oarfish a place in maritime folklore as the probable source of many sea serpent tales.
It was not until 2001 that an oarfish was filmed alive and in situ: the 1.5 metre fish was spotted by a group of US Navy personnel during the inspection of a buoy in the Bahamas [1].
The oarfish was observed to propel itself via an amiiform mode of swimming; that is, rhythmically undulating the dorsal fin whilst keeping the body itself straight.
The oarfish is sometimes called the Òribbon fish.Ó The adults can grow up to 9.8 to 25 feet long,and weigh up to 100 pounds.It is the largest bony fish known.
It comes up to the surface if it is sick or dying.The oarfish live in depths of 3,000 feet deep.
Fish Identification Photos: Oarfish, Regalecus glesne: The Oarfish is the sole member of the Regalecus Genus and sole member of the Regalecidae Family.
The Oarfish is a relatively obscure fish that is reported to move vertically through the water column and is found between 3,300 feet deep and the surface.
The Oarfish is not of commercial interest because the meat is gelatinous and generally not eatable.
Like other members of their order, oarfish have small yet highly protrusible oblique mouths with no visible teeth.
Perhaps indicating a feeding posture, oarfish have been observed swimming in a vertical orientation, with their long axes perpendicular to the ocean surface.
In contrast, adult oarfish are rarely seen at the surface when not sick or injured.
