Two fishermen, Curtis Peterson and his friend, recently discovered a rare and elusive sea creature known as the “doomsday fish” near Tiwi Island, Australia, around 80 kilometres from Darwin. They caught a massive oarfish, scientifically named Regalecus glesne, during a moonlight fishing session and shared the photo on the Facebook page of Fishing Australia TV. The image quickly went viral, sparking curiosity and debate among social media users.
Oarfish can grow up to nine meters in length and are rarely seen by humans, as they usually swim at depths of around 3,000 feet. Often, they are mistaken for serpents when they appear near the surface, and their bodies are more commonly found washed ashore after death. The fishermen’s capture of the live oarfish was especially remarkable, given how uncommon it is to see one in such circumstances. Some sceptics online questioned the authenticity of the photo, speculating it could have been created using artificial intelligence.
The oarfish has a long history of being associated with bad omens in ancient folklore. In Japan, it has been considered a harbinger of natural disasters like earthquakes and tsunamis for centuries. This belief persists, even though scientists have found no evidence linking oarfish sightings to seismic activity. A notable example occurred recently when a dead oarfish was discovered off the coast of La Jolla, California, just days before a 4.4 magnitude earthquake struck Los Angeles.
Despite the lack of scientific proof connecting oarfish appearances to disasters, each sighting remains a rare and extraordinary event. The oarfish’s unique appearance and elusive nature make it an object of fascination. According to UK media reports, Peterson’s catch has been described as an “ancient-looking rarity” for Australia, further adding to the mystique surrounding this deep-sea creature.
Comments
0 comment