The oarfish is the longest bony fish in the world, known for its gelatinous and sticky flesh. This species is particularly rare and was only recently discovered along the coast of the United States.
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1. The Longest Bony Fish in the World
The giant oarfish (Regalecus glesne) was first described in 1772, but it is rarely seen because it inhabits the deep ocean. Giant oarfish are believed to live at depths of around 1,000 meters below sea level. They possess large eyes, allowing them to navigate to the ocean’s deepest parts, and their bodies can grow exceptionally long. According to scientists, the oarfish is the longest living bony fish in the world, with lengths reaching up to 17 meters and weights of up to 270 kilograms.
Oarfish have a silvery body and are sometimes referred to as “the king of herring” due to their similar appearance to this smaller fish. However, they are named for their long pectoral fins, which resemble oars. In Palau, where the oarfish was depicted on a stamp in 2000, it is also known as the rooster fish due to its slender fins that are red in color. Some people even call them ribbonfish.
2. Gelatinous and Sticky Flesh
There is little information about the conservation status of giant oarfish due to their rarity in being observed alive, although many fishermen occasionally pull them up from their nets.
According to information from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), some people who have eaten oarfish report that their flesh is very gelatinous and sticky.
A 4m long oarfish found washed ashore near Oceanside, California, USA on October 18. (Photo: AP)
3. Oarfish Feed on Plankton and Are Not Dangerous
Although oarfish may be the source of many historical tales related to sea serpents and monsters, they are considered harmless to humans. Oarfish only feed on small plankton, possessing a small opening for their digestive system. This species does not even have real teeth; instead, they have finer structures known as gill rakers to catch small prey.
Oarfish are sometimes found at the ocean surface, but scientists believe this occurrence is due to being pushed by storm surges or strong currents or possibly due to accidents leading to death. While they may resemble a fearsome sea monster, they have never been considered a threat to humans unless you are small enough to be bitten by their toothless small mouth. Even their feeding process is quite gentle, as they simply swim around the ocean with their mouths wide open, taking in whatever comes their way.
However, this creature has inspired terrifying stories about encounters with dangerous sea monsters, even though in reality, they feed solely on tiny plankton, with their mouths having no teeth and serving only as a small opening for the digestive system.
4. Scaleless
Unlike other bony fish, oarfish are scaleless. Instead, they have numerous small projections and a silvery coating made of guanine. Despite their adaptations to survive in high-pressure environments, their skin surface is quite soft and easily damaged.
5. Potential Earthquake Forecasts
Oarfish may have inspired the legends of sea serpents seen across various maritime cultures for centuries. Those fortunate enough to see them at the ocean’s surface have noted that their heads rise above the water while their lengthy bodies glide beneath.
Oarfish belong to the family Regalecidae. Their rare appearances at the ocean’s surface have rendered them so mysterious that in Japan, they have long been used as illustrations in folklore. The thinner oarfish species (Regalecus russelii) compared to the giant oarfish is regarded as a message sent from the palace of the sea god. According to traditional Japanese beliefs, if oarfish appear frequently, it may indicate an impending earthquake.
A report in 2010 noted the concerns of some Japanese people after they learned about oarfish carcasses washing up on the beach. Shortly thereafter, earthquakes occurred in Haiti and Chile. Oarfish also washed ashore months before the major earthquake and tsunami that struck Japan in 2011, according to National Geographic.
According to the Japan Times, there may be some scientific basis for believing this, even though scientists do not use the behavior of fish to predict minor tremors. Kiyoshi Wadatsumi, a scientist specializing in earthquake research at the non-profit organization e-PISCO, stated that deep-sea fish are often more sensitive to the effects of tectonic movements compared to fish that live near the ocean surface.
Deep-sea fish are often more sensitive to the effects of tectonic movements.
There are many beliefs and opinions regarding the phenomenon of oarfish. However, all opinions are relative and depend on various factors in determining whether the sighting of oarfish washing ashore signals an earthquake.
