"Two 'Doomsday Fish' Appear? Tourists React to Rare Deep-Sea Species on Beach"

A giant deep-sea fish that can grow up to about 9 meters in length

Two ribbon-shaped oarfish discovered on a Mexican beach

Tourists join forces to return them to the sea

Two rare deep-sea fish known as oarfish have caught attention after appearing on a beach in Mexico. Historically, oarfish have been regarded as harbingers of major disasters such as earthquakes or tsunamis, earning them the nickname "doomsday fish" and generating online buzz. However, there is still no scientific evidence proving any direct connection between such beliefs and natural disasters.

The black scabbardfish is a large deep-sea fish that can grow up to approximately 9 meters in length, typically inhabiting waters at depths of 200 to 975 meters. Because of this, it is known to be very rare to find them near the coast. The New York Post

On March 11 (local time), international media outlets including The New York Post and Newsweek reported that two long, ribbon-shaped oarfish were found on the beach of Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, last week. One of the fish had been completely washed up onto the sand, while the other was half-submerged in shallow water, writhing as it struggled to move.

The oarfish is a large deep-sea fish that can grow up to about 9 meters in length and usually inhabits depths between 200 and 975 meters. Because of this, it is known to be extremely rare to find them near the coast. Monica Fittinger, a tourist who filmed the scene, said, "I saw something shiny from afar, and when I got closer, it was a creature I had never seen before. It looked just like a scene from a movie," she recalled.

Fittinger's younger sister, who saw the oarfish thrashing on the sandy beach, immediately set out to return it to the sea. About five tourists nearby joined her, and together they pushed the oarfish back into the ocean. Fittinger added, "Another oarfish had also been washed further up on the shore, but we returned that one to the sea as well. Both of them swam back into the water." She said, "It was an astonishing sight that I may never see again in my lifetime."

Fittinger's younger sister, who saw the sandfish thrashing on the sandy beach, immediately set out to return it to the sea. About five tourists nearby joined her, and together they pushed the sandfish back into the ocean. The New York Post

The oarfish belongs to the family Regalecidae and is known as the longest bony fish in the world. It primarily feeds on small crustaceans, plankton, and small fish. Since they mostly live in the deep sea, it is extremely rare to see one alive, and they continue to be considered mysterious deep-sea creatures.

The oarfish is sometimes called the "ribbon of the sea" because of its long, flat, silvery body and distinctive red fins. In Japan and some other regions, there is a belief that the appearance of an oarfish near the shore is a sign that a major disaster such as an earthquake or tsunami is imminent, which is why they are also known as the "doomsday fish." This story spread widely, especially after records showed that several deep-sea fish, including oarfish, were found off the coast of Japan before the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake. However, there is still no confirmed direct link between oarfish and natural disasters.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.