Rare Lancetfish Captured in Nags Head, North Carolina
Posted on May 16, 2014
Rare, mysterious deep sea fish washes ashore along NC coast http://t.co/0hXBDLD8EW pic.twitter.com/InEzk4Lgsy
� FOX8 WGHP (@myfox8) May 16, 2014FOX8 WGHP reports that a rare lancetfish washed ashore in Nags Head, North Carolina. The lancetfish appears agitated in the above photograph. FOX8 says the fish was alive when found on a beach. It was released back into the water after being photographed according to Daryl Law from the North Carolina Aquarium. The lancetfish is a deep sea predator and is rarely found close to the shore. The fish belongs to the genus Alepisaurus. It can reach up to 2 meters (6.6 feet) in length. The fish have a large mouths with sharp teeth. The sharp teeth of the lancetfish can be seen more clearly in the second NOAA photo below from a lancetfish capture in November, 2006.
The photos below shows a lancetfish on a the NOAA ship Oscar Elton Sette. The fish was found off the Kona Coast of Hawaii. They were photographed by Allen Shimada.