Identification
The opah is one of the most spectacular fish in the world. The body is large and disc-shaped, reaching 2 meters and reportedly 270 kg, though verified records are around 90 kg. Colors are breathtaking: the back is steel-blue with silver spots, flanks transitioning to pink-red, and the fins are bright red to orange. The mouth is small and toothless. Eyes are large and golden.
Ecology
The opah is one of the few warm-blooded fish in the world. A specialized heat-exchange system in the gills maintains a body temperature 5°C above surrounding water. This provides an advantage when hunting in cold deep water (50 to 500 meters). Feeds on squid, krill, and fish.
In the Netherlands
The opah is extremely rare in the North Sea. The species inhabits open ocean waters from tropical to temperate zones. A stranded specimen on the Dutch coast is always a scientific event.
