Giant Oarfish

Common Name: Giant Oarfish
Scientific Name: Regalecus glesne

DESCRIPTION

The Giant Oarfish is a species that belong to the family of Regalecidae. The species of Giant Oarfish varied in distribution, excluding polar regions. Other species include Pacific oarfish, king of herrings, ribbonfish, and streamer fish.

DIET

Oarfish diet consists of planktons and they selectively strive for tiny euphausiids, shrimps and other aquatic anthropods are also a part. Tiny fishes, jellyfish, and squid are some of the other consumed prey.

BEHAVIOUR

It swims in a vertical position by means of its dorsal fin. It lives in depths of around 200-1000m. They are found very rarely, at times they appear near shore after being injured by shark predation.

HABITAT

Scientists at research captured traces of this rare fish alive in its natural habitat in the mesopelagic zone in the Gulf of Mexico. First ever the oarfish was found at depth, since most of the specimens was explored dying at the sea surface or washed ashore.

SPECIAL FEATURES OR HABITS

Oarfish lack scales in nature. As replacement, have featured with tubercules and a silvery coat of a material called guanine. Even they survive under high pressure, at the surface their skin is soft and fragile.

LOCATION OR REGION FOUND

Rarely seen at the surface, found on the deep-seas of California region.