oarfish

oarfish
/awr"fish', ohr"-/, n., pl. (esp. collectively) oarfish, (esp. referring to two or more kinds or species) oarfishes.
any long, ribbon-shaped, silvery fish of the genus Regalecus, of deep tropical waters, having a red dorsal fin along the spine that rises to a crest, and reaching a length of 30 ft. (9 m). Also called ribbonfish.
[1855-60; OAR + FISH]

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fish
      (species Regalecus glesne), large, long, sinuous fish of the family Regalecidae (order Lampridiformes), found throughout the tropics and subtropics in rather deep water. A ribbon-shaped fish, very thin from side to side, the oarfish may grow to a length of about 9 m (30.5 feet) and a weight of 300 kg (660 pounds). It is shiny silver in colour, with long, red, oarlike pelvic fins and a long, red dorsal fin that rises as a manelike crest on top of the head. Seldom seen at the surface, it is credited as the “sea serpent” of some reported sightings.

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Universalium. 2010.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Oarfish — King of herrings Scientific classification Kingdom: Animalia …   Wikipedia

  • oarfish — [ôr′fish΄] n. pl. oarfish or oarfishes (see FISH) any of a family (Regalecidae, order Lampriformes) of large, long, narrow, deep sea bony fishes having a fin along the length of the back and a manelike crest behind the head: some reach a length… …   English World dictionary

  • Oarfish — Oar fish ([=o]r f[i^]sh ), n. (Zo[ o]l.) The ribbon fish. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • oarfish — /ˈɔfɪʃ/ (say awfish) noun (plural oarfish or oarfishes) a marine fish, Regalecus glesne, of temperate seas, having a long, compressed, tape like body up to 9 metres in length, a dorsal fin running the whole length of the body, and red tipped rays …  

  • oarfish — noun Date: 1860 a marine bony fish (Regalecus glesne) of subtropical waters with a narrow soft body from 20 to 30 feet (6 to 9 meters) long, a red dorsal fin running the entire length of the body, and red tipped anterior rays rising above the… …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • oarfish — noun a large, greatly elongated, type of fish of the family Regalecidae …   Wiktionary

  • oarfish — əʊfɪʃ n. long thin silvery fish with a bright red back fin (from the family Regalecidae) …   English contemporary dictionary

  • oarfish — noun (plural same or oarfishes) a very long, narrow silvery fish of the deep ocean. [Regalecus glesne.] …   English new terms dictionary

  • oarfish — oar•fish [[t]ˈɔrˌfɪʃ, ˈoʊr [/t]] n. pl. (esp. collectively) fish, (esp. for kinds or species) fish•es. ich any long, ribbon shaped, deep sea fish of the genus Regalecus, having a fin along the back that rises to a crest: up to 30 ft. (9 m) long • …   From formal English to slang

  • oarfish — n. a ribbonfish, Regalecus glesne …   Useful english dictionary

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