SPECIES INFO
Oarfish (Regalecus glesne) is found in all the oceans of the world. However, this species is limited to warm and tropical seas. This weird fish can reach astounding lengths. 10 foot long examples are found, proven records exist for up to 25 feet, and rumors exist for specimens over 55 feet in length. This is a very flat eel like fish with a very long red dorsal fin that extends from above the eyes to the tip of the tail. The front of the dorsal fin can form a large crest. The red pelvic fins can be very long and reach over 10 feet in length. There is a nice color drawing on pages 194-95 of ther Migdalksi book on Fishes of the World.The oarfish family contains a single species. This is found in all oceans of the world.
This order contains a number of diverse families of marine fish. Included here is the opah (moonfish), crestfishes, ribbonfishes, and the oar fish. This order has a total of about 20 species. Most are silver with red fins. There is a nice series of colored drawings in Migdalksi that shows the diversity in this order.
Bony fish, Class Teleostomi, are a class of chordates that include the majority of fish-like animals found on earth. They are characterized by a bony jaw and a bony skeleton. They are found in both fresh and marine waters.
Backboned Animals (Phylum Chordata) are the most advanced group of animals on earth. These animals are characterized by having a spinal cord or backbone. Most members have a clearly defined brain that controls the organism through a spinal cord. Fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals are in this phylum.
Currently, some taxonomists believe that the fish should be divided into two groups (sharks and regular fishes) and that there are some other primitive groups in the phylum such as hagfish or lampreys.
Animal Kingdom contains numerous organisms that feed on other animals or plants. Included in the animal kingdom are the lower marine invertebrates such as sponges and corals, the jointed legged animals such as insects and spiders, and the backboned animals such as fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals.
