Rare, mysterious deep sea fish washed ashore

A rarely seen deep sea fish washed up on a beach in North Carolina on Monday evening. The fish, believed to be a lancetfish, washed onto the shore along Nags Head, south of Jennette's Pier.



The photos were taken by Leif Rasmussen from Manteo. Officials say the fish was alive when it washed up on the shoreline. Because of its appearance and its long and very high dorsal fin biologists believe the fish is a lancetfish.

Lancetfish have large mouths and sharp teeth and are typically known to be deepwater fish. Very little is known about the lancetfish's biology, but they are known to be in all of the oceans, except the polar seas.



After taking pictures of the strange-looking fish Rasmussen walked the fish back out to the ocean, as deep as he could walk. He then released the fish back into the water. Pier officials say the fish ended up washing up to the shore again, so they believe something was wrong with it.