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  • (beeping)

  • - Check the sonar.

  • Do we have a lock on it?

  • - 50 feet, captain.

  • - I'm reading her to be at least 28 feet long.

  • - 28 feet?

  • Great Scott!

  • Legends have told of a giant sea serpent.

  • - There!

  • - The inspiration for legends of sea serpents and monsters,

  • the giant oarfish is a peculiar animal.

  • It's the world's longest bony fish,

  • and has been known to reach lengths

  • of up to 56 feet.

  • Of those we have been able to study,

  • they typically weigh in at around 600 pounds.

  • Oarfish can be found in every ocean on the planet,

  • except the Arctic.

  • They're what's known as an oceanodromous species.

  • - What?

  • - It means the fish is migratory,

  • and travels across the world's oceans.

  • - Exactly.

  • Oarfish migrate to find their food,

  • mainly plankton and krill.

  • While the fish may be large,

  • it has no real teeth, but rather gill rakers

  • that filter out its food from the ocean water.

  • The giant oarfish is typically a deep ocean fish.

  • Its natural habitat is around 3,000 feet deep,

  • but it has often been seen shallower,

  • sometimes as shallow as 60 feet.

  • You know, it's strange.

  • Rather than swim in schools,

  • the giant oarfish chooses a solitary life,

  • circumnavigating the planet in an

  • endless search for food.

  • I like to think it's on a grand adventure,

  • kind of like all of us, as we

  • - Captain.

  • - Can't you see I'm having a moment?

  • (laughter)

(beeping)

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