A rare sighting of the magnificent oarfish in shallow waters. A 14-foot (4.3-meter) oarfish was found on a beach in Oceanside, California recently.
Two rare oarfishes have washed up on California beaches in less than a week, prompting much excitement among marine scientists and the public. Oarfish live in deep water and are rarely seen at the surface, though they are thought to be the inspiration for “sea serpent” tales of old.
The giant oarfish (Regalecus glesne) was first described in 1772, but it has been rarely seen because it lives at considerable depths. It is not well known, but giant oarfish are thought to frequent depths around 3,300 feet (1,000 meters).
Giant oarfish are the longest known living species of bony fish, reaching a length of 56 feet (17 meters). They can weigh up to 600 pounds (270 kilograms).
The silvery fish are sometimes called the “king of herrings” because of their superficial resemblance to the smaller fish, but they are named oarfish because of their long pectoral fins, which resemble oars. In Palau, where they were featured on a stamp in 2000, they are called rooster fish, thanks to their slender, reddish fin. Some people also call them ribbonfish because of their body form.
In Japan, oarfish have long figured into folklore. Smaller than the giant oarfish, the related slender oarfish (Regalecus russelii) is known there as the "Messenger from the Sea God's Palace." And according to traditional belief, if many of the fish wash up, it may signal a coming earthquake.
