Opah

Abstract: There have been numerous reports of plastic debris accumulation in surface waters of the central North Pacific Subtropical Gyre. Further, incidences have been reported of plastic ingestion by different marine organisms, including seabirds and small planktivorous fishes. Diet studies (2007 to 2012) of predatory pelagic fishes from this general region showed repeat observa- tions of anthropogenic marine debris ingestion in 7 species (n = 595 individuals examined). Inci- dence rates ranged from <1% in Gempylus serpens to 58% in Lampris sp. (small-eye). Of all indi- viduals 19% contained some form of marine debris, the majority of which was some form of plastic or fishing-related line. Surprisingly, species with the highest incidences of debris ingestion are thought to be primarily mesopelagic and unlikely to come into contact with surface waters con- taining known debris fields. Ingested debris pieces were found to be positively buoyant in seawa- ter mimicking different depths. These observations are the first of their kind in scope and number, and suggest that more attention should be given to marine debris in subsurface waters as well as to poorly understood organismal and food web implications.

Abstract: The genus Lampris (Lampridae) currently comprises two species, Lampris guttatus (Brunnich 1788) and L. immaculatus (Gilchrist 1905) commonly known as Opah and Southern Opah, respectively. Hyde et al. (2014) presented DNA sequence data which revealed the presence of five distinct, monophyletic lineages within L. guttatus. In this paper, we present morphological and meristic data supporting the presence of five species previously subsumed within L. guttatus (Brunnich 1788). We restrict Lampris guttatus (Brunnich 1788), resurrect L. lauta (Lowe 1838), and describe three new species of Lampris. A key to the species of Lampris is provided.

Abstract: Mammals and birds warm their entire bodies above the ambient temperature. Generally, this ability is lacking in other vertebrates, although some highly active fish can temporarily warm their swim muscles. Wegner et al. show that the opah, a large deepwater fish, can generate heat with its swim muscles and use this heat to warm both its heart and brain. This ability increases its metabolic function in cold deep waters, which will help the fish compete with other, colder-blooded species. Science , this issue p. [786][1] [1]: /lookup/doi/10.1126/science.aaa8902