The elusive oarfish, often referred to as the “doomsday fish” due to its association with disaster in folklore, was recently captured on video in shallow waters off Baja California Sur, Mexico.
On February 9, a group of visitors to the area observed the fish swimming near a beach.
Characterized by its eel-like slender body and gaping mouth, the oarfish is rarely seen by humans. Since 1901, only 20 oarfish have been recorded washing up along the California coast, according to the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, with the most recent sighting occurring in November.
In Japanese mythology, oarfish are considered omens of doom, often associated with impending earthquakes. However, a study published in 2019 by researchers in Japan found no significant correlation between oarfish sightings and seismic activity.
Typically, oarfish inhabit depths of around 650 feet, but they have been discovered at depths reaching up to 3,280 feet, as noted by the Florida Museum of Natural History.