A scientific paper written by staff from the Okinawa Churashima Foundation Research Center was recently published in the journal Zoological Letters. The paper summarized the details of the world’s first successful artificial insemination and larval hatching of the mysterious and beautiful deep-sea fish the giant oarfish. On January 29th 2019,a recently deceased male giant oarfish and a recently deceased female giant oarfish were brought to Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium. Sperm was removed from the male oarfish, and eggs were removed from the female. Artificial insemination resulted in fertilization. 20 eggs hatched, and staff were able to record detailed information on their morphology, growth and behavior. This research is important in providing new ecological information on a species of deep-sea fish that we know little about.

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  Fertilized egg
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  Hatched larvae

Authors

Shin-ichiro Oka, Masaru Nakamura, Ryo Nozu and Kei Miyamoto

Title of Paper

First observation of larval oarfish, Regalecus russelii, from fertilized eggs through hatching, following artificial insemination in captivity

Title of Journal

Zoological Letters

Link to Article

https://doi.org/10.1186/s40851-020-00156-6