Crested oarfish facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Crested oarfish |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | |
| Phylum: | |
| Class: | |
| Order: | |
| Family: |
Lophotidae
|
| Genus: |
Lophotus
|
| Species: |
L. lacepede
|
| Binomial name | |
| Lophotus lacepede Giorna, 1809
|
|
The crested oarfish (Lophotus lacepede) is a unique type of fish known for its special crest. It belongs to a family of fish called Lophotidae. This fish loves to travel far and wide in the ocean. It usually swims in waters from the surface down to about 92 meters (around 300 feet) deep. Sometimes, it might accidentally get stuck in shallow waters.
Where Crested Oarfish Live
Crested oarfish prefer warm parts of the ocean. You can find them in places like the Western Atlantic Ocean and the Western Indian Ocean. They also live in the Eastern Atlantic and the Eastern Pacific. These fish spend their lives in the open ocean, far from the coast. They often swim in the oceanic zone and the twilight zone of the ocean.
What Crested Oarfish Look Like and Do
Crested oarfish can grow quite long. They can reach a maximum length of 200 centimeters (about 6.5 feet). However, most of them are usually around 100 centimeters (about 3.3 feet) long.
One cool thing about this fish is that it has an ink sac. This sac is located near its rear end. When the crested oarfish feels scared or in danger, it can squirt ink from this sac. This helps it to escape from predators.
These fish are also hunters. They eat other sea creatures, especially squids. They also enjoy eating smaller fish, like anchovies. Crested oarfish are oviparous, which means they lay eggs. Their eggs float in the water as plankton.
Protecting Crested Oarfish
Crested oarfish are often found in marine protected areas. These are special ocean areas where fishing and other human activities are limited. This helps to protect marine life.
Currently, there are no specific plans just for protecting the crested oarfish. Also, scientists don't see any major threats to them right now. The IUCN Red List is a list that tracks how endangered different species are. The crested oarfish is listed as a least concern species. This means it is not considered to be at risk of extinction.
