First In Fish: 'Fully Warm-Blooded' Moonfish Prowls The Deep Seas

NPR ^ | 05-15-2015 | Bill Chappell

[Red Badger]

NOAA Fisheries biologist Nick Wegner holds an opah caught during a research survey off the California coast. Researchers say the opah is the first fish known to be fully warm-blooded, circulating heated blood throughout its body. NOAA/Reuters /Landov

[fieldmarshaldj]

But how does it taste ?

[Oberon]

"Opah are unusual in that different parts of their body look and taste different, the biologist explains. The upper part of the fish looks like tuna and tastes like a cross between tuna and salmon, he says. But their pectoral muscles — the ones that power the fins on the side of the body — look and taste a bit like beef."

From the article.

[Red Badger]

Of the flavor, National Geographic has reported:

“Opah are unusual in that different parts of their body look and taste different, the biologist explains. The upper part of the fish looks like tuna and tastes like a cross between tuna and salmon, he says. But their pectoral muscles — the ones that power the fins on the side of the body — look and taste a bit like beef.”

[Red Badger]

A fish that tastes like BEEF!...............Win-Win!..........

[Erik Latranyi]

Both Tuna and Beef make great barbecue! Throw the whole damn thing on the grill and let’s get this party started!

[Mrs. Don-o]

The article says the upper part of the body tastes like a cross between tuna and salmon, but the muscles powering the pectoral fins taste more like beef.

[fieldmarshaldj]

So what are we waiting for ? Let’s fry Oprah !

[BipolarBob]

It tastes great. I had some in Hawaii. Or at least that’s what they said it was.

[Mrs. Don-o]

"Correction May 18, 2015 - In an earlier version of this post, we incorrectly note that 5 degrees Celsius is roughly equivalent to 9 degrees Fahrenheit. In fact, it is equivalent to 41 degrees Fahrenheit"

I think they were right the first time. 5^o C is 41^oF. but a five-degree C difference in temp = an 8-degree F. difference in temp.

I know that is true but I can't think of an easy way to explain it. Would one of you science-thinky people jump in and enlighten us?.

[Mrs. Don-o]

Uh, no thanks.

[Louis Foxwell]

Would like to know about their breeding habits, fry care, etc.

[EinNYC]

That's funny. For years, ,I've been teaching kids in marine biology classes that tuna and sharks have a counter current system which maintains the warmth of their blood and therefore their muscles, making their muscles work more efficiently and allowing them their great swimming speeds. So how does this opal's mechanism differ, I wonder.

[PghBaldy]

“Everybody gets a car!”

[1Old Pro]

But how does it taste ?

Like chicken

[Red Badger]

The difference is in absolute value.

5°C = 41°F as an absolute value.

As a DIFFERENCE value, 5 Celsius degrees is roughly equivalent to 9 Fahrenheit degrees...............

Example:

20°C = 68°F
25°C = 77°F

Ergo

A 5°C DIFFERENCE = a 9°F DIFFERENCE...............

[kosciusko51]

Temperature:

5 C = 41 F
0 C = 32 F

=> Temperature difference = 5 C - 0 C = 5 C(delta) = 41 F - 32 F = 9 F(delta), where delta mean difference in temperature.

[Red Badger]

?..............

[BigEdLB]

A frightening mutation has been observed.

[Mrs. Don-o]

Thank you! Just what I was going to say!

:o)