Spinyfin velifer

※Off display.

This fish is a species of velifer that reaches 30 cm in length. It is not part of the order Perciformes but belong to the order Lampridiformes like the oarfish. It is distributed from southern Japan to Australia and South Africa. In Okinawa, it is found in the deep sea at depths around 200 meters. It is identified by an elongated sixth spine of the dorsal fin and an eye-like spot on the upper rear sides of the body. Individuals exhibited at the Churaumi Aquarium are young fish that were collected in relatively shallow waters. It is thought that juveniles live in shallower waters then as they mature they move to deeper waters.