red dorsal fin runs the full length of its body
small mouth, no teeth
oarfish, Regalecus glesne It was only a couple of years ago that scientists discovered that the long slithery fish doesn't swim horizontally through the water like other fish . A group of marine biologists were using an ROV (remotely operated veh icle) in the G ulf of Mexico when they, by chance, cau ght a live oarfish in the camera's lens. They observed that the oarfish swims vertically in the water column by using its long red dorsal fin, which runs the full length of its body, to hold its body in position. If it needs to pick up the pace, it undulates like a snake to move more rapidly through the water. The oarfish Jasmine Santana fo und in California is less than h alf the len gth adults can reach, but it might be a bit of a stretch to think that this creature could wrap itself around a ship and eat its crew. Then again, if a lobster big enough to grip a m an in its claw is offered at dinner, make sure you invite a friend or two (or ten) to share and hope that the restaurant doesn't charge by the pound. !, Details from the Carta Marina map show two giant lobsters (one clutching a man in its claw), creatures that spout like whales, and a sea serpent wrapping itselfaround a ship.
SEA HISTORY 150, SPRING 2015
Garfish illustration by Ian T Meli.
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