Lampris guttatus is found in the North Sea off the coast of Norway. In Russian waters it is found in the White Sea, off the Kola Peninsula and off the Southern Kuril Islands. The usual range of depths is from 50 to 500 m, but it is also found at the water surface. The body is oval, strongly flattened laterally, with a high back and covered in fine, easily crumbling scales. The back coloration is bluish-bluish, turning soft bluish-green on the sides with a silvery or golden sheen and pearly spots. The belly is light pink. The dorsal fin is large, with a sickle-shaped blade at the front end. All fins are bright red. The opah can reach 2.3 m in length with a weight of over 270 kg.