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oarfish Body plans of Lampridiformes and Atheriniformes.
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oarfish
oarfish Oarfish (Regalecus glesne).

oarfish

fish
Also known as: Regalecus glesne, giant oarfish
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History

oarfish, (Regalecus glesne), large, long, sinuous fish of the family Regalecidae (order Lampridiformes), found throughout the tropics and subtropics in rather deep water. A ribbon-shaped fish, very thin from side to side, the oarfish may grow to a length of about 9 metres (30.5 feet) and a weight of 300 kg (660 pounds). It is shiny silver in colour, with long, red, oarlike pelvic fins and a long, red dorsal fin that rises as a manelike crest on top of the head. Seldom seen at the surface, it is credited as the “sea serpent” of some reported sightings.

This article was most recently revised and updated by John P. Rafferty.