In a remarkable turn of events, beachgoers in California stumbled upon a rare “doomsday fish” just days before a significant earthquake rattled Los Angeles. This strange coincidence has reignited ancient folklore linking these elusive deep-sea creatures to natural disasters.
The 12-foot-long (3.7 meters) short-crested oarfish, often referred to as a “doomsday fish,” was discovered off the coast of San Diego on August 10. This marked only the 20th time such a creature has washed up in California since records began in 1901, according to the Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the University of California, San Diego. These mysterious fish, which dwell in the deep sea, are rarely seen by humans, adding to their eerie reputation.
Folklore and the ‘Doomsday Fish’ Legend
In Japanese folklore, the appearance of an oarfish is seen as a forewarning of impending earthquakes or tsunamis, earning it the ominous title of “doomsday fish.” This belief stems from ancient stories that have persisted through generations, suggesting that these ribbon-like giants signal disaster when they rise from the depths.
Zachary Heiple, a doctoral student at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography who was involved in recovering the oarfish, shared insights with Live Science. “There’s this thought that they’re a doomsday fish or a bad omen and that they seem to signal things like tsunamis or earthquakes,” Heiple explained.
Just two days after the discovery, on August 12, a magnitude 4.4 earthquake struck Los Angeles. While this timing might fuel superstitions, Heiple pointed to scientific research that debunks any real connection. A 2019 study published in the Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America found no evidence supporting the idea that sightings of the “doomsday fish” are linked to seismic activity.
“There didn’t really seem to be any correlation,” Heiple noted. “But it’s a really interesting tidbit because it shows how oarfish and human history have interacted throughout time.”
The Mystery of the ‘Doomsday Fish’
Oarfish are some of the largest bony fish in the world, capable of growing up to 36 feet (11 meters) in length. Their long, slender bodies and silver, reflective scales have likely inspired ancient sea monster myths. Living thousands of feet deep in oceans worldwide, these “doomsday fish” primarily feed on krill and small crustaceans, filtering them from the water as they swim.
The reasons behind the appearance of this “doomsday fish” in the shallow waters near La Jolla Cove remain unclear. However, a group of current and former marine scientists who were snorkeling and kayaking in the area that day made the remarkable discovery. Emily Miller, a research associate at California Sea Grant, recounted the moment she first saw the giant fish.
“The visibility wasn’t top-tier that day, but the highly reflective surface of the oarfish was still brilliantly obvious underwater,” Miller said in an email to Live Science. Despite the murky waters, the glimmering scales of the “doomsday fish” caught her attention, prompting her to bring the fish to the surface and call for assistance.
Preserving the Rare Find
The reef where the “doomsday fish” was found is within a protected area, so the researchers had to secure permission before removing it. Once granted, they worked with local beachgoers to bring the massive creature ashore. “It was like Christmas morning,” Heiple said, expressing his excitement over the rare find. “These are very rare, and something like this just doesn’t happen very often.”
The oarfish was transported to a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) facility, where researchers took samples to study the animal further. Although the cause of the fish’s death remains unknown, the specimen was in good condition, offering scientists a valuable opportunity to learn more about the elusive “doomsday fish.”
Heiple, who is focused on studying the evolution of deep-sea fish, hopes that DNA samples from this “doomsday fish” will shed light on the bizarre and fascinating adaptations that have allowed these creatures to thrive in one of the ocean’s most mysterious environments.
“It was really excellent that we were able to preserve this oarfish, and we are getting to take as many samples as we are,” Heiple said, reflecting on the importance of this rare discovery.
