The legendary “doom fish,” oarfish, has made a rare appearance in California, washing up on the shores for the second time this year. The nearly 10-foot-long oarfish was discovered by PhD candidate Alison Laferriere from the Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego in Encinitas, southern California. These elusive creatures are known to dwell in the deep ocean at depths of up to 3,300 feet in the mesopelagic zone.
Oarfish, which can reach lengths of up to 20 feet, are largely unstudied by scientists and have sparked myths and legends for centuries, often being referred to as the “doomsday fish” due to their association with natural disasters like earthquakes. In 2011, the “earthquake fish” legend resurfaced in Japan after 20 oarfish were found prior to a devastating earthquake and tsunami.
Researcher Ben Frable from the Scripps Institution suggested that shifts in ocean conditions and a potential increase in oarfish populations might explain the uptick in sightings. The rare appearances of oarfish provide scientists with an opportunity to learn more about these mysterious creatures and their behavior.
While there is no solid scientific evidence linking oarfish to earthquakes, their rare appearances continue to spark curiosity and intrigue among scientists and the public. As researchers study these rare occurrences, the true nature of the oarfish and the myths surrounding them remain open to interpretation.
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