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Oarfish
Regalecus glesne Ascanius, 1772
A 4 m long Oarfish washed ashore at Anna Marie Island, South of Tampa Bay, Florida, March 2002. Photo © D. Miller. View larger image.
It was initially assumed that the damage towards the tail of the fish resulted from an encounter with a boat propeller. This was not the case. Photo © D. Miller. Read an eyewitness account. View larger image.
The Oarfish with admirers, at Anna Marie Island, South of Tampa Bay, Florida, March 2002. Photo © D. Miller. View larger image.
An Oarfish on the beach at Gisbourne, North Island, New Zealand, April 1989. Photo © M. Glass .
The Oarfish is reported to be the longest of all fishes. It has a ribbon-like body that has been reliably documented to grow to 8 m in length, however specimens up to 17 m in length have been reported.
It is metallic silver with blotches and wavy markings on the body, and pink or red fins (Oarfish colouration page).
This species has a concave head profile and a highly protrusible mouth (a characteristic of the order Lampridiformes). It has a dorsal fin that runs the entire length of the body, but lacks an anal fin. There are tiny spines projecting laterally off each caudal and pelvic fin ray.
The derivation of the common name is uncertain. It may refer to the oar-shaped body, or the long oar-like pelvic fins, or possibly to reports that as the fish swims the pelvic fins scull the water like oars. The pelvic fins are clearly visible in the upper images.
People most often see Oarfish washed up on beaches (view Mexican washup images). Encounters with live Oarfish are rare (read an eyewitness account). They are sometimes seen on the surface, and this may contribute to tales of sea serpents.
The Oarfish is found worldwide in all tropical and temperate marine waters. It is thought to live at depths between 20 m and 200 m, where it feeds largely on invertebrates and fishes.
View a map of the collecting localities of specimens in the Australian Museum Fish Collection.
Although several species of oarfishes have been described, there is now believed to be only one species.
Related Links
- View image of an Oarfish found floating off Miami.
- Two oarfishes in the process of stranding at Isla San Marcos B.S.C. Mexico.
Further reading
- Glover, C.J.M. in Gomon, M.F, J.C.M. Glover & R.H. Kuiter (Eds). 1994. The Fishes of Australia's South Coast. State Print, Adelaide. Pp. 992.
- Olney, J.E. Ii Paxton, J.R. & W.N. Eschmeyer (Eds). 1994. Encyclopedia of Fishes. Sydney: New South Wales University Press; San Diego: Academic Press [1995]. Pp. 240.
