Scientists Overjoyed After World’s First Warm-Blooded Fish Is Discovered

Have you ever thought about being a fish? No? I haven’t either, but it would be bloody cold as the water takes the heat right out of most sea life. Except this recently discovered fish. This is the opah, also known as the moonfish, and its ability to keep its body warm is blowing the hats (or lab coats) off all the science folks out.

Only a couple of other fish can raise their bodies’ temperatures when they hunt, but this moonfish is able to stay warmer than the surrounding water thanks to the constant flapping of its powerful pectoral fins. Not impressed? You’d be pretty jealous if you were a fish.

The fish can weigh up to 90 kg and have fat deposits around grills, heart and muscle tissue that helps them conserve the warmth in the cold water, putting their body fat to good use.

The oval-shaped fish has been found in the waters off the U.S., Australia and several other countries and it swims faster, reacts quicker and has better sight than the other sea creatures out there.

To answer my own question, I have now thought about being a fish and if I were to turn into one, I’d want to be a moonfish.

H/T: Science Magazine