Extremely rare oarfish spotted in California, here is why it is called 'doomsday fish'

An extremely rare marine creature has triggered curiosity and panic among residents of California after a dead oarfish was spotted by a group that was kayaking and snorkeling near La Jolla Cove, near San Diego. Oarfish, also known as the "doomsday fish," is a deep-sea fish and has only been seen around 20 times in California since 1901.

FACEBOOK/ Scripps Institution of Oceanography

The Scripps Institution of Oceanography said that the extremely rare 12-foot oarfish was found on August 10.

"With help from NOAA Fisheries Service and California Sea Grant team members, the group was able to coordinate with lifeguards to transport the fish to the NOAA facility. Scientists from NOAA Southwest Fisheries Science Center and Scripps Oceanography will perform a necropsy to see if they can determine a cause of death," Scripps said.

Why oarfish is rare?

The oarfish, which lives at a depth of anywhere between 250 meters to 1,000 meters, has rarely been seen on the surface. Scientists have also failed to study them in detail as not many specimens have been found alive. The few that were spotted on the surface were barely alive and died soon after due to depressurization.

FACEBOOK/ Scripps Institution of Oceanography

Doomsday fish??

However, in folklore, they have a reputation for being foretellers of natural disasters in the waters, like earthquakes and tsunamis, thus earning them the name "doomsday fish." It is believed that disturbances in the deep sea before earthquakes push them to the surface.

Also read:?Alien-Looking Rare Footballfish, Seen Only Around 30 Times By Humans, Washes Ashore On US Beach

Oarfish in Japan

According to reports, some 20 oarfish washed ashore in Japan in March 2011, before the country was hit by one of the worst earthquakes in its history.

Earthquake in California?

There are also reports that just two days after the oarfish was spotted off the California coast, on August 12, the region was hit by a 4.4 magnitude earthquake.

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