Giant oarfish

The giant oarfish (Regalecus glesne), also called the king of herrings, is a species of oarfish of the family Regalecidae. It is an oceanodromous species with a worldwide distribution, excluding polar regions.

R. glesne is the world's longest bony fish. Its shape is ribbon-like, narrow laterally, with a dorsal fin along its entire length, stubby pectoral fins, and long, oar-shaped pelvic fins, from which its common name is derived. Its coloration is silvery with dark markings, and its fins are red. Its physical characteristics and its undulating mode of swimming have led to speculation that it might be the source of many "sea serpent" sightings.

The body of ribbon-like forms, with a length of 3.5 m height of the trunk can be up to 25 cm and its thickness - only 5 cm; extra long 5.5 m weighs about 250 kg. The head is very short, mouth small, with a vertical slit mouth, pull. The dorsal fin is very long, starts on the head above the eye and extends to the rear end of the body. The dorsal fin has soft rays of 300-400, including 10-15 greatly elongated front, equipped with membranous extensions to the top and form a color Sultan. Pectoral fins short, horizontal. Pelvic fins thoracic (located below the chest), represented by a single long beam, paddle-shaped flattened at the end. The caudal fin in adults rudimentary fish, young fish presented several long free rays. Body without scales, covered with bony tubercles (bumps), grouped in longitudinal rows. The lateral line is long, takes place in the lower part of the body. The swim bladder is absent.