Giant oarfish

Giant oarfish
A taxidermied specimen of Regalecus glesne in Naturhistorisches Museum Wien.
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Subphylum:	Vertebrata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	Lampriformes
Family:	Regalecidae
Genus:	Regalecus
Species:	R. glesne
Binomial name
Regalecus glesne Ascanius, 1772
Synonyms
Cephalepis octomaculatus Rafinesque, 1810 Cepola gladius Walbaum, 1792 Gymnetrus ascanii Shaw, 1803 Gymnetrus banksii Valenciennes, 1835 Gymnetrus capensis Valenciennes, 1835 Gymnetrus gladius Valenciennes, 1835 Gymnetrus grillii Lindroth, 1798 Gymnetrus hawkenii Bloch, 1795 Gymnetrus longiradiatus Risso, 1820 Gymnetrus telum Valenciennes, 1835 Regalecus banksii (Valenciennes, 1835) Regalecus caudatus Zugmayer, 1914 Regalecus jonesii Newman, 1860 Regalecus masterii De Vis, 1891 Regalecus pacificus Haast, 1878 Regalecus remipes Brünnich, 1788

The giant oarfish (Regalecus glesne) is a species of oarfish of the family Regalecidae. It is an oceanodromous species with a worldwide distribution, excluding polar regions. Other common names include Pacific oarfish, king of herrings, ribbonfish, and streamer fish.

R. glesne is the world's longest bony fish. Its shape is ribbon-like, narrow laterally, with a dorsal fin along its entire length, stubby pectoral fins, and long, oar-shaped pelvic fins, from which its common name is derived. Its coloration is silvery with dark markings, and its fins are red. Its physical characteristics and its undulating mode of swimming have led to speculation that it might be the source of many "sea serpent" sightings.

Taxonomy

R. glesne was first described by Peter Ascanius in 1772. The genus name, Regalecus, signifies "belonging to a king"; the specific epithet glesne is from "Glesnaes", the name of a farm at Glesvær (not far from Norway's second largest city of Bergen), where the type specimen was found.

Its "king of herrings" nickname may derive from its crownlike appendages and from being sighted near shoals of herring, which fishermen thought were being guided by this fish. Its common name, oarfish, is probably an allusion to the shape of its pelvic fins, or else it may refer to the long slender shape of the fish itself.

Distribution

The giant oarfish has a worldwide pelagic distribution. It is believed to be oceanodromous, following its primary food source. It has been found as far north as 72°N and as far south as 52°S, but is most common in tropical to temperate oceans. It is thought to inhabit the epipelagic to mesopelagic layers, ranging as deeply as 1,000 m (3,300 ft) up to 20 m (66 ft).

Description

1895 illustration of Regalecus glesne

Skeleton

This species is the world's longest bony fish, reaching a record length of 11 m (36 ft); however, unconfirmed specimens of up to 17 m (56 ft) have been reported. It is commonly measured to 3 m (9.8 ft) in total length. The maximum recorded weight of a giant oarfish is 272 kg (600 lb).

Its shape is ribbonlike, narrow laterally, with a dorsal fin along its entire length from between its eyes to the tip of its tail. The fin rays are soft and may number up to 400 or more. At the head of the fish, the rays are lengthened forming a distinctive red crest. Its pectoral and pelvic fins are nearly adjacent. The pectoral fins are stubby while the pelvic fins are long, single-rayed, and reminiscent of an oar in shape, widening at the tip. Its head is small with the protrusible jaw typical of lampriformes; it has 40 to 58 gill rakers, and no teeth.

The organs of the giant oarfish are concentrated toward the head end of the body, possibly enabling it to survive losing large portions of its tail. It has no swim bladder. The liver of R. glesne is orange or red, the likely result of astaxanthin in its diet. The lateral line begins above and behind the eye then, descending to the lower third of the body, extends to the caudal tip.

The skin of R. glesne is scaleless but covered with tubercles. The skin color is silver with streaks, spots or splotches of black or dark gray, and a bluish or brownish tinge on the head. Its fins, including its long dorsal fin and crest, are red, again probably resulting from its diet.

Behavior

R. glesne juvenile

Little is known about oarfish behavior. It has been observed swimming by means of its dorsal fin, and also swimming in a vertical position. In 2010, scientists filmed a giant oarfish in the Gulf of Mexico swimming in the mesopelagic layer, the first footage of a reliably identified R. glesne in its natural setting. The footage was caught during a survey, using an ROV in the vicinity of Thunder Horse PDQ, and shows the fish swimming in a columnar orientation, tail downward.

It feeds on krill and other small crustaceans, as well as small fish and squid. It is known to spawn from July to December. The eggs are 2.5 mm (0.1 in) large, and float near the surface until hatching. Its larvae are also observed near the surface during this season. As an adult it is believed to be solitary.

Relationship with humans

R. glesne is not fished commercially, but is an occasional bycatch in commercial nets, and as such it has been marketed.

Because they are not often seen and because of their size, elongated bodies, and appearance, giant oarfish are presumed to be responsible for some sea serpent sightings. Formerly considered rare, the species is now suspected to be comparatively common, although sightings of healthy specimens in their natural habitat remain very unusual.

Members of a BUD/S class display a giant oarfish discovered by their instructor on the beach of Naval Amphibious Base Coronado in 1996.

References

Citations

External links

• Giant 'Sea Serpent' Caught on Camera, Discovery News at YouTube. Footage of an oarfish swimming in the mesopelagic layer.
• "Mythical sea creature captured on film", article about efforts to ban deep-sea bottom trawling with video of R. glesne
• Recent Examinations of the Oarfish, Regalecus glesne, from the North Sea. Yorkshire Coast Sealife, Fisheries & Maritime Archive & Museum