Opah/Moonfish
O-002 | Open Ocean Collection
Why I Chose This Fish
I've always been drawn to lesser-known species, and as soon as I saw the Opah on video, I knew I had to capture it. I love the metallic silver body, vibrant red fins, and flashes of blue that give this fish such a unique appearance. In some ways, the Opah reminds me of a sunfish, but with even more personality and color. It was one of those fish that immediately caught my attention, and I wanted to see if I could capture what made it so striking.
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Scientific name: Lampris spp.
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Habitat: Deep open-ocean waters, generally in tropical and temperate regions around the world.
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Range: Tropical and temperate oceans worldwide.
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Typical Size: Around 3 feet in diameter and averaging about 100 pounds; some can grow considerably larger.
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Diet: Primarily squid and deep-water fish, along with other midwater prey.
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Known For: Its striking metallic silver body, red fins and belly, white spots, and large golden-ringed eyes. The Opah is also remarkable because it is the first fish known to have whole-body endothermy, allowing it to maintain an elevated body temperature even while living in cold, deep water.
