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Behold the oarfish, the world’s longest bony fish. The beasts typically live hundreds of feet below the ocean surface are thus are rarely seen. Since 2002, however, a few videos (like the one below) have surfaced and given scientists important clues about the animals.
In March, a lucky group affiliated with Chicago’s Shedd Aquarium bumped into two of these silvery sea serpents swimming near the shore of the Sea of Cortés in Mexico. Fortunately for us, their cameras were rolling and they captured rare footage of the eel-like creatures swimming at their feet.
A trip to shore for an oarfish is rare, and usually ends badly for the fish. The species made headlines in the fall when an 18-foot specimen, one of the biggest ever reported, died off the coast of California. Snorkelers brought it onto land where researchers and passers-by marveled at the behemoth.
The oarfish is often the subject of myth and legend, and you can see why from the video. But no need to fear an oarfish encounter: they feed primarily on small ocean prey like zooplankton, shrimp and other crustaceans.
Agencies/Canadajournal
