Photos & story by Seaside Aquarium
A longnosed lancetfish washed ashore on Seaside beach yesterday. Check out what we found inside of its stomach!
Resembling a barracuda, this is one fish you would not expect to run across along the Oregon coast. Their beautiful large eyes, sharp fang-like teeth, and serpent-like body distinguishes this fish from most others living in the Pacific Northwest. Little is known about the longnose lancetfish. We know they range from the southern Bering Sea to Chile and occupy surface waters down to 6,000 feet. We also know that they are not picky eaters, they are known to eat over 90 different species of marine life, including each other, and unfortunately, are attracted to plastics. Their unique feeding habits, along with the varying range of depth that they occupy, have scientists studying their stomach contents. They have poor digestion, so when you look at the contents of their stomachs you will usually see whole fish and other prey items. By studying what the longnose lancetfish is eating scientists can better understand how the marine food web changes over time (if at all). It may also help understand changes in the food web brought on by events like El Nino or La Nina.
For some reason in the spring and summer a handful of these guys wash ashore on Oregon beaches. The aquarium often gets a call when someone comes across one of these odd-looking fish wondering exactly what it is that they have found. Longnose lancetfish can reach 7 feet and weigh up to 20 pounds.
