Why is this animal unusual?
It’s the longest fish with a bony skeleton on Earth. And it often swims vertically, hanging head-up in the water like a silver curtain.
Why does it look like that?
No scales – just bare skin covered in a silvery coating. The fin on its back runs the whole length of the body, and the first few rays form a tall red crown on its head.
Strangest biological feature
It can drop its own tail. Like a lizard, an oarfish can shed the back part of its body, and many adults are missing a chunk.
Why is it strange?
In Japan it’s known as a “doomsday fish”: legend says it surfaces before earthquakes. Scientists checked the records in 2019 and found no connection.
Interesting behavioral facts
It has no real teeth and filters tiny animals from the water. It moves by rippling the long fin on its back while keeping its body straight.
Records held
The longest bony fish in the world.
