sea serpent
A guide from the Catalina Island Marine Institute discovered the carcass of an oarfish (Regalecus glesne) off the coast of Catalina Island this week. Oarfish are the longest bony fish (reports up to ~50 feet long) in the ocean. Because oarfish live deep in the ocean, there have been limited studies on their physiology or behavior. So this was quite the exciting find!
Other Sources:
LiveScience
tags: animals, fish, ribbonfish, oarfish, Regalecus glesne, sea serpent,marine biology, Mark Benfield, streaming video
A huge oarfish, also known as the ribbonfish, Regalecus glesne, was caught on camera in the Gulf of Mexico, giving scientists a rare glimpse of the bizarre fish in its native deep sea habitat. This is probably the largest bony fish in the seas, and it has the distinctive habit of swimming vertically (head up). Researcher Mark Benfield describes the fish, a likely inspiration for the sea serpent myth.
Scientists are "baffled" by the discovery of a strange worm-like, serpentine creature off the cost of Juno Beach in Florida. Diver Jay Garbose caught the 7-10 foot creature on film as it slithered around the ocean floor. Watch his astonishing video footage.Unidentifiably delicious!
Garbose has dubbed the beast "the living intestine" because of its smooth, tube-like features. Some have ventured to say that it is a newly found species of Nemertean worm, but for now the Smithsonian Institute is labelling it "undescribed"...creative.