Essay On Oarfish

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The Giant Oarfish

Cool Facts:

The giant oarfish has a number of characteristics which makes it unusual. One fact is that it is the longest bony fish alive today- up to 36 feet long (11 meters). A second fact is that, since it sometimes floats on the surface of the ocean when it is sick or dying, it may be the source of the idea of sea monsters. A third fact is the entire taxonomic family to which the oarfish belongs consists of only four living species.

Taxonomic Information:

The scientific name of the giant oarfish is Regalecus glesne in the family Regalecidae, order Lampriformes, Class Actinopterygii, Subphylum Vertebrata, phylum Chordata, and kingdom Animalia. Related species include the streamer fish of the genus Agrostichthys. Other names for this fish include Ribbon Fish and King of Herring.

Description:

Physically, the oarfish is a long, long skinny fish, (the aforementioned 36 feet length) with a dorsal fin that runs the entire length of the fish, from just behind the small eye to the tip of the tail. One unconfirmed sighting reported a length of 56 feet (11m) but ...

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