Exciting day out -

On February 9, 2025, there was great excitement and trepidation at the Mexican beach, Baja California Sur.

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Surprising discovery -

Beachgoers were surprised, and somewhat shaken, to spot a shimmering oarfish squirming around in the shallow coastal waters.

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The "doomsday fish" -

Known to some as the "doomsday fish," the oarfish is native to the deep ocean, and according to Japanese folklore, it is a symbol of impending doom.

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Extremely rare -

It is incredibly rare to spot this marine serpent out of its native deep-sea habitat, and it’s even more rare to find one alive.

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End of life -

In this case, it seemed the oarfish was coming to the end of its life and had come to the shore to die.

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Characteristics of the oarfish -

The shimmering oarfish is quite a sight to behold. Firstly, it is one of the longest fish species in the world.

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Size and weight -

Indeed, doomsday fish have been known to grow up to 30 feet (approximately nine meters) in length and weigh up to 600 pounds (approximately 272 kilograms).

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Ribbon-like, scaly body -

The oarfish has a slender, ribbon-like body, and iridescent silver scales that cause it to shimmer.

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Natural habitat -

The shimmering oarfish prefers to reside in depths between 656 and 3,200 feet (between 200 and 975 meters).

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Rare sightings -

Until recently, the species had hardly ever been spotted on land. In the second half of 2024, however, there were three separate sightings in southern California.

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August 2024 in San Diego -

The first sighting took place in August 2024 and marked the region's first spotting of the rare fish in nearly 125 years.

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La Jolla Cove -

The body of the 12-foot-long (3.65-meter-long) oarfish was discovered by a group of kayakers and snorkelers swimming in La Jolla Cove in San Diego.

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September 2024 in Huntington Beach -

The second oarfish sighting of 2024 was at Orange County’s Huntington Beach in September 2024. The fish was also found dead.

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November 2024 in Encinitas -

Finally, on November 6, 2024, the body of a 10-foot (3-meter) oarfish was found at a beach in Encinitas, around 25 miles (40 kilometers) north of San Diego.

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Live sighting -

All three oarfish spotted in California were found dead. However, the one found in Mexico in February 2025 was alive, making the sighting even more exciting. Pictured is a baby oarfish.

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Oarfish in Japanese folklore -

In Japanese folklore, the sighting of a doomsday fish in shallow waters is considered a warning of an impending earthquake.

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Old legend -

According to the travel outlet Atlas Obscura, this legend dates all the way back to the 17th century.

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The sea god Ryujin -

The folklore teaches us that the shimmering oarfish belonged to servants of the sea god, Ryujin.

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According to the legend -

Legend has it that the oarfish are sent to the ocean’s surface by their masters to warn people of an approaching earthquake or tsunami.

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Alternative name -

Hence, oarfish, are also sometimes referred to as "messengers from the sea god’s palace."

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Reason to believe -

In recent years, there have been several events that caused people to believe there is at least a sprinkling of truth in this old legend.

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Sightings in 2010 -

In 2010, for example, at least a dozen oarfish were washed up on the coast of Japan. Shortly after this sighting, disaster struck.

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Disaster in 2011 -

In March 2011, a severe earthquake hit Japan’s Fukushima and simultaneously triggered a massive tsunami.

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Philippines sightings in 2017 -

In 2017, there were reports of six oarfish spotted before a deadly earthquake in the southern Philippines.

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Another Japanese disaster in 2019 -

And in 2019, at least three oarfish were found washed up on the coast of Japan, just months before the Yamagata earthquake and blackout.

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Intriguing either way -

Whether or not you believe in the Japanese legend, the increasing number of oarfish sightings is objectively interesting.

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Scientists' opinion -

In discussing why the three oarfish washed up on the coast of California last year, scientists have been unable to determine a definite cause.

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Key takeaways -

Indeed, researchers have mainly focused on the ways in which each specimen collected can help us learn more about the species.

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The role of climate patterns -

It is thought that these so-called strandings of the oarfish may be related to shifts in the climate patterns of El Niño and La Niña.

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Combination of factors -

However, as is so often the case with these things, there is likely more than one factor at play.

Sources: (USA Today) (Parade)

See also: What are the most fascinating subspecies of wildlife?

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