Oarfish

Oarfish

This mysterious, large sea fish can grow as long as 20 ft with flattened body 1 ft deep and 2 in wide. Oarfish have a brilliant red fin of spines which runs along its dorsal edge. It is believed that the oarfish raises this mane as an aggressive show. The oarfish has a small mouth and teeth are absent. Using gill rakers the oarfish strains the water of small crustaceans. Very little is known of this fish and it remains somewhat of a mystery to science. [BM] {FW}