A rarely seen deep sea fish resembling a serpent was found floating dead on the ocean surface off the San Diego coast, drawing attention from marine experts and local enthusiasts alike.
The silvery, 12-foot-long oarfish was discovered last weekend by snorkelers and kayakers at La Jolla Cove, which is just north of downtown San Diego, as reported by the Scripps Institution of Oceanography.
According to institution fish expert Ben Frable, this marks only the 20th time since 1901 when such a fish has been recorded washing up on California shores.
Oarfish are known for their elongated body, growing to lengths exceeding 20 feet, and typically inhabit the mesopelagic zone of the ocean, where sunlight barely penetrates, as explained by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
While oarfish are rarely seen alive, they hold cultural significance, particularly in Japanese folklore, as they are rumored to be predictors of earthquakes, though no scientific correlation has been established.
The swimmers who found the La Jolla Cove oarfish transported it ashore using a paddleboard, and it was then loaded onto the bed of a pickup truck for examination.
Researchers from NOAA Southwest Fisheries Science Center and Scripps are conducting necropsies to investigate the cause of death.
Experts noted the unique morphology of oarfish, which includes their ribbon-like body structure and long dorsal fin, contributing to their legendary status as oceanic monsters.
The oarfish feeds primarily on plankton and small crustaceans, filtering nutrients from the water at great depths.
Experts from both Scripps and NOAA plan to preserve the specimen to advance the study of this enigmatic species.
Historically, sightings of oarfish have sparked intrigue and fear, often associated with tragic events like earthquakes due to folklore beliefs.
The oarfish’s peculiar behavior of rising to the surface when sick or disoriented has fueled the narratives linking its presence to impending natural disasters.
Oarfish encounters are so rare, with only occasional reports surfacing, making each discovery cause for both concern and wonder among scientists.
Despite its ominous nickname as the “doomsday fish,” not every sighting coincides with disaster, as multiple oarfish were observed without subsequent cataclysmic events over the past decade.
Residents and visitors near the San Diego area are encouraged to report any unusual marine life sightings to Scripps Oceanography for scientific documentation.
This incident along the San Diego coast serves as both a curious discovery for scientists and rich material for community folklore, as the oarfish continues to mystify those who encounter it.
There is excitement about what the necropsy will reveal about this elusive creature's final moments and how it might inform future studies on deep-sea life.
The recent finding adds another chapter to the oarfish’s storied existence and its enigmatic role within marine ecosystems and mythologies.
