Opah

Opah or moonfish (Lampris guttatus) is a large, colorful, deep-bodied pelagic lampriform fish found in the tropical and temperate waters of the world's oceans. Unlike most other fish, the opah is warm-blooded, which allows it to inhabit a wider range of ocean depths.

Description

The opah is a large, round fish, typically measuring 1 to 2 meters in length and weighing up to 200 kilograms. Its body is a deep red-orange color on the top and silver on the bottom, with white spots scattered across the body. The opah has large, round eyes and a small mouth with sharp teeth.

Distribution and habitat

Opah are found in both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, in tropical and temperate waters. They are pelagic, meaning they live in the open ocean rather than close to the coast. Opah are known to inhabit a wide range of depths, from the surface down to at least 500 meters.

Diet

The diet of the opah consists mainly of squid and small fish, which they catch by rapidly accelerating and engulfing their prey.

Reproduction

Little is known about the opah's reproductive habits, but it is believed that they are solitary breeders. Females release their eggs into the water, where they are fertilized by males.

Commercial value

Opah are prized by both commercial and recreational fishermen for their size, fight, and meat. The flesh of the opah is rich and flavorful, making it a popular choice in many cuisines.

Conservation status

The conservation status of the opah is currently unknown, due to a lack of comprehensive population data. However, they are not currently considered to be at risk of extinction.

See also

• List of fish in the Atlantic Ocean
• List of fish in the Pacific Ocean