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Giant bizarre deep sea fish filmed in Gulf of Mexico (Oarfish, can reach 50 ft. (17m) in length)
BBC News ^ | 2/8/10 | Jody Bourton

Posted on 02/08/2010 9:49:54 AM PST by NormsRevenge

Extraordinary footage of a rarely seen giant deep sea fish has been captured by scientists.

Using a remotely operated vehicle, they caught a rare glimpse of the huge oarfish, perhaps the first sighting of the fish in its natural setting.

The oarfish, which can reach 17m long, has previously only been seen on a few occasions dying at the sea surface, or dead washed ashore.

The scientists also filmed for the first time the behaviour of a manefish.

Mark Benfield from Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, US was undertaking a survey as part of the Serpent project, a collaboration between marine scientists and energy companies such as BP, Shell, Chevron and Petrobras working in the Gulf of Mexico.

Using remotely operated vehicles (ROV) provided by the oil and gas companies, the scientists are able to explore the deep like never before.

During one of these surveys, the scientists glimpsed a giant oarfish.

Sea serpent

Oarfish (Regalecus glesne) are one of the world's longest fish reaching 17m.

Their strange appearance may have provided the basis for the sea serpent myths told by early ocean travellers.

Not only are they elongated, they also have a prominent dorsal fin which gives it an unusual "serpent" appearance.

(Excerpt) Read more at news.bbc.co.uk ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Mexico
KEYWORDS: bizarre; deepsea; fish; gulfofmexico; marinebiology
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We saw this bright vertical shiny thing. We zoomed in a little bit and said 'that's a fish!'

Professor Mark Benfield Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, US

Video at the link.

1 posted on 02/08/2010 9:49:54 AM PST by NormsRevenge
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To: NormsRevenge

2 posted on 02/08/2010 9:56:11 AM PST by WackySam (To argue with a man who has renounced his reason is like giving medicine to the dead.)
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To: NormsRevenge

self-ping for life beyond the firewall


3 posted on 02/08/2010 9:56:20 AM PST by NonLinear (Giving money and power to government is like giving whiskey and car keys to teenage boys.)
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To: NormsRevenge
Image and video hosting by TinyPic
4 posted on 02/08/2010 9:58:06 AM PST by Sax
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To: WackySam

Too skinny to be a mistaken identity of Kennedy........


5 posted on 02/08/2010 9:58:08 AM PST by Hot Tabasco (I want a hoochie-mama for Christmas, only a hoochie-mama will do............)
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To: NormsRevenge

video gone.


6 posted on 02/08/2010 9:58:56 AM PST by Dogbert41
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To: WackySam

drat, that pic is too durn big for a double post! Ya beat me!


7 posted on 02/08/2010 9:59:03 AM PST by Sax
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To: Sax

what the hell is that? is that the oar fish?


8 posted on 02/08/2010 10:00:55 AM PST by latina4dubya ( self-proclaimed tequila snob)
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To: WackySam

But is it good eating?


9 posted on 02/08/2010 10:02:27 AM PST by FatherFig1o155 (It's time to expose politicians for what they are. My soapbox is here: njconservative.wordpress.com/)
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To: latina4dubya

That it is! I don’t recall ever seeing one before today.


10 posted on 02/08/2010 10:07:48 AM PST by Sax
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To: latina4dubya

appears to be the same fish as in the video

“On this occasion the fish was observed underneath Thunderhorse in the Gulf of Mexico, one of the largest semi-submersible oil rigs in the world.”


11 posted on 02/08/2010 10:12:58 AM PST by faucetman (Just the facts ma'am, just the facts)
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To: NormsRevenge

Cajuns want to know.....how does it taste???


12 posted on 02/08/2010 10:13:11 AM PST by Wonder Warthog
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To: NormsRevenge

Why did they kill it?


13 posted on 02/08/2010 10:13:29 AM PST by angcat (GOD SAVE US!)
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To: NormsRevenge
Photobucket
14 posted on 02/08/2010 10:14:52 AM PST by Snurple (VEGETARIAN, OLD INDIAN WORD FOR BAD HUNTER.)
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To: Snurple

I kid you not, that was the first face that popped in my head too.. lol


15 posted on 02/08/2010 10:16:36 AM PST by NormsRevenge (Semper Fi ... Godspeed .. Monthly Donor Onboard .. Chuck DeVore - CA Senator. Believe.)
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To: Dogbert41

Damn, I viewed the Oarfish , it’s pretty cool looking.., the other video was toast already.. fingers crossed it pops up again.


16 posted on 02/08/2010 10:17:53 AM PST by NormsRevenge (Semper Fi ... Godspeed .. Monthly Donor Onboard .. Chuck DeVore - CA Senator. Believe.)
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To: angcat

They didn’t kill the one in the video, the only way these are typically observed is after they are dead and happen to wash ashore.. as shown in the pic.


17 posted on 02/08/2010 10:19:39 AM PST by NormsRevenge (Semper Fi ... Godspeed .. Monthly Donor Onboard .. Chuck DeVore - CA Senator. Believe.)
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To: Snurple

You own me a new keyboard


18 posted on 02/08/2010 10:21:02 AM PST by egannacht (Inalienable rights granted by...)
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To: NormsRevenge

This is too freaky-deeky. I actually had a nightmare about an encounter with one of these fish. It was very disturbing.


19 posted on 02/08/2010 10:22:03 AM PST by TruthHound ("He who does not punish evil commands it to be done." --Leonardo da Vinci)
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To: Snurple
The the Oarfish’s cousin, the Hoarfish.
20 posted on 02/08/2010 10:23:15 AM PST by ryan71 (Let's Roll!)
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