Oarfish

Creature from the deep: Rare Oarfish washes up on aussie beach.

The serpent-like animal was found six metres offshore, bringing to at least six the number of oarfish that have washed up on the West Australian coast in recent months. Prefering to live in the depths of the ocean they have only been known to come to the surface when sick or dying and have rarely been seen alive.

Living in the world's warmer oceans, it feeds on plankton and is harmless to humans. The longest bony fish in the sea, it grows up to nine metres long with a bright red crest that runs the entire length of its body.

It is probably the creature that sparked "sea serpent" legends following sightings by ancient mariners.

Last year a woman in Cleveland on the north-east coast of England caught a 63.5kg, 3.5m-long oarfish while fishing for cod, using a squid bait.

Scientists were disappointed when the woman, who weighed 13kg less than the fish, sliced it up and put it in her freezer.

The fish is not good to eat.

The specimen found yesterday was too decomposed to keep and has been disposed of.


A rare - and dead - oarfish washed up at City Beach in Perth yesterday, proving more than a handful for Troy Coward, Andy Mole and Axel Strauss (pictured).

Oarsome

06feb05
IN Japanese superstition, the rare oarfish is a portent of disaster. If the belief holds true, then Western Australia is heading for trouble.

At least six of the serpent-like creatures, which normally live in depths of 200m or more, have been washed up between Geraldton and Augusta in the past five months.

The one which was discovered at City Beach in Perth this week was the biggest at 4m long.

Beach inspector Andy Mole, who at first thought it was a car bumper before he dived down and felt its slime, said it looked like something space-age.

The WA Museum curator of fish, Barry Hutchins, said usually only one or two oarfish washed up each year and this summer had been unusual.

Some marines in California found a giant one in 1996
Check it out.

www.thejump.net...

Originally posted by LeftBehind


Some marines in California found a giant one in 1996
Check it out.

www.thejump.net...

That's a HUGE specimen

[edit on 9-2-2005 by Slant]

Thats why I dont swim in the ocean. That crap scares the bejesus out of me.

yeah same here i hate swimming in the ocean cause of stuff like that

Well it seems the OarFish has finally been caught on camera

Louisiana State University Scientists caught the elusive fish on camera in 2011 but only now published their findings

Link: www.dailymail.co.uk...



Believed to grow up to 50 Feet long!! could be an explanation for Nessie

Marine biologists at Louisiana State University captured the mysterious fish on camera through a partnership with an offshore drilling company in the Gulf of Mexico

Video of the oarfish can be seen here;

news.bbc.co.uk...

will see if I can embed it on here shortly.
it's amazing how they swim, like a little machine

EDIT: Here is the video.