Giant Oarfish: a two-minute wildlife lesson

Fish and Sharks · day 4 of 7

Five facts

1. No bony fish on Earth is longer. The record is about 7 to 8 m, and some may even reach 11 m.
2. Its ribbon shape and wavy way of swimming may explain many old sightings of sea serpents.
3. When scientists filmed one in the deep sea, it was swimming upright like a pillar, with its tail pointing down.
4. A red, crown-like crest may be why it is called the king of herrings. Fishermen believed it led shoals of herring.
5. Its vital organs sit close to its head. So it can lose the end of its long tail and carry on swimming without harm.

The quiz

1. What record does the giant oarfish hold?

• Fastest fish in the sea
• Longest bony fish in the world (correct)
• Deepest-diving fish
• Loudest fish in the ocean

It is the longest bony fish on Earth, with a record of about 7 to 8 m.

2. Which legend may the oarfish have inspired?

• Flying dragons
• Mermaids
• Giant turtles carrying islands
• Sea serpents (correct)

Its long ribbon body and wavy swimming may lie behind sea serpent sightings.

3. How was the oarfish swimming when it was filmed in the deep sea?

• Upright, with its tail pointing down (correct)
• Upside down, belly to the surface
• Curled into a tight ring
• Lying flat on the seabed

The footage shows it swimming upright like a column, tail downward.

4. What nickname does the oarfish's crown-like crest help explain?

• Prince of whales
• Lord of the sharks
• King of herrings (correct)
• Queen of the reef

Its crown-like crest and its sightings near herring shoals gave it this name.

5. Why can an oarfish lose the end of its tail without harm?

• Its tail grows back in a day
• Its vital organs are near its head (correct)
• It has two hearts in its tail
• It has no tail bones at all

Its organs sit in the front of its body, so losing tail does no damage to them.

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