What is an Oarfish?
Oarfish have remained shrouded in mystery until the modern era, when scientific expeditions began to explore the depths of the ocean. Around the 18th or 19th century, oceanographers and seamen started documenting encounters with the oarfish, which they often referred to as “ribbonfish” due to its slender, elongated form. However, because the oarfish lives in deep waters, typically between 200 to 1,000 meters, it was rarely seen alive by humans, leading to a slow accumulation of knowledge about the species.
Today, the oarfish is recognized as the longest bony fish in the ocean, belonging to the family Regalecidae. For those that really want to know, the term Regalecidae comes the latin word for royal or kingly; meaning this type of fish is very regal. Despite its fearsome appearance, the oarfish is a gentle giant, feeding mainly on plankton, small fish, and squid. The species has a unique way of swimming, undulating its dorsal fin while keeping its body relatively straight, which adds to its ethereal, otherworldly presence. Oarfish can grow to impressive lengths, with some species, like the giant oarfish, reaching up to 56 feet or 17 meters for those metric folks (What the hell Jefferson!?).
Is There Such a Thing as the Oarfish Doomsday?
In short, No! The oarfish gained its reputation as a harbinger of doom mainly due to its association with natural disasters, particularly earthquakes and tsunamis. This belief is rooted in folklore and has been especially prominent in Japan. In Japanese culture, the oarfish is known as “Ryugu no tsukai,” or the “messenger from the sea god’s palace.” According to legend, when an oarfish appears near the surface or washes ashore, it is a sign that the sea god is warning of an impending earthquake or tsunami. This belief likely arose because oarfish, which typically live in deep waters, occasionally surface due to changes in water pressure or environmental disturbances, such as seismic activity. For example, several oarfish were reportedly seen before the devastating 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami, reinforcing the idea that these creatures are omens of disaster.
Additionally, Western naval folklore has also added to the mystique of these fish. Oarfish have often been mistaken for sea serpents in various cultures, fueling myths and legends about sea monsters. European and American sailors reported seeing “sea serpents” during long voyages. These descriptions often matched the physical characteristics of the oarfish, leading many historians to believe sightings contributed to these sea monster legends. Drawings and reports from this era depict long, snake-like creatures with snake-like movements.
This is not surprising. Since sailors had little understanding of the creatures that lived far below the ocean’s surface. When an oarfish washed ashore or was caught in fishing nets, its strange and massive form led to immediate speculation that it was a sea serpent. Because of their unusual appearance, oarfish have sometimes been confused with other mysterious marine creatures in sailors’ tales, including the mythical kraken and other monstrous entities said to inhabit the depths.
The recent discovery of a dead 12-foot oarfish in La Jolla, California, is indeed a rare occurrence. Only 20 oarfish have been reported in California since 1901. That being said, the 4.6 magnitude earthquake that occurred in L.A. on August 12th, has no scientific backing dead La Jolla oarfish.
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- https://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/waiting-for-the-big-one-giant-oarfish-start-shock-waves-in-la-8899812.html
