King of Herrings

Identification

The oarfish is the longest bony fish in the world, with confirmed lengths up to 11 meters and possibly longer. The body is extremely elongated and laterally compressed like a ribbon. Color is silvery with a striking red dorsal fin running the entire length. The first dorsal fin rays are greatly elongated into a crown-like crest. No scales. Pelvic fins are reduced to long, oar-shaped filaments.

Ecology

The oarfish lives in the open ocean at great depth (200 to 1,000 meters) and is almost never seen alive. The species swims vertically, head up. Feeds on krill, small fish, and squid. When sick or dying specimens appear at the surface, they are the likely source of historical sea serpent sightings. In Japan, the oarfish is known as Ryugu no tsukai (messenger from the sea god's palace) and strandings have been considered a bad omen for centuries — a belief that persists among Japanese coastal communities to this day.

In the Netherlands

An exceptional vagrant. Specimens occasionally wash up on European coasts. Every stranding attracts international attention due to the spectacular appearance and extreme rarity.