Author: Ascanius, 1772
FBname: King of herrings
Comments: Cool-water, anti-tropical distribution, at latitudes greater than 15° (Ref. 92949). Oceanic and can live at great depths (Ref. 2850), but occasionally cast up on beaches (Ref. 9563).  Large adults sometimes kill themselves by swimming out of the water onto beaches; occurrence of such strandings may be linked to certain areas, seasons or months and often in spates.  With a unique adaptation of self-amputation (autotomy) of the posterior part of the body past the vent which may involve only the caudal fin (or one to a few small adjacent vertebrae) or as far anterior as just before the abdomen; apparently occurs several times during its lifetime (serial autotomy) but do not damage any vital organs and are usually survived except in strandings.  All records over 1.5 m long have bodies shortened by autotomy and may exhibit a healed-over stump or "terminus"; still, many  specimens found with fresh (with a ragged appearance very different from a healed termini) incomplete self-amputations of the posterior part of the body, notably not consistent with shark bites; the lost part is never regenerated.  Species of this <i>Regalecus</i> attain lengths of 7-8 meters and this is well established by documented specimens.  Oftentimes vertically suspended head-up in clear oceanic or inshore waters with the rays of the two dorsal fin crests usually extended vertically upwards while the pelvic fin rays may be horizontally spread outward and away from the body (Ref. 92949).  This is hypothesized to be a feeding stance that visually allows the fish to spot the silhouette of its potential prey against the skylight (Ref. 49905).  Feed on euphausiid crustaceans, small fishes and squid (Ref. 6738).  Toothless protrusile jaws work to suction krill-laden water into its oro-branchial cavity and retained in the gullet by the long, spiny and bristly gill rakers (Ref. 92949).  Occassionally associate in pairs (gender undocumented) but no record of group larger than three or of schooling behavior (Ref. 92949).  Spawning occurs between July and December and larvae are encountered near the surface (Ref. 9337).  Mature individuals spawn in the North Atlantic along the west coast of Florida and off the northern coast of America; in or near the Straits of Messina in the Mediterranean; in the South Pacific in the Catham Rise area of New Zealand and somewhere off the west coast of southern Australia (Ref. 92949).   In Guinness Book of Records as longest bony fish (Ref. 6472). Also caught with encircling nets and marketed fresh (Ref. 9337).  Reputed to be unpalatable because the flesh is tasteless or otherwise unappetizing (Ref. 92949).  Underwater footage shows them slowly swimming vertically, head up, with a stiff body, only undulating the dorsal fin, and with photophores on their appendages. The mouth can be protruded for capturing prey (RF, pers. comm. 2013).