An oarfish, also known as a ‘doomsday’ fish, was found by paddle-boarders on the California coastline on 10 August.
The name comes from the belief that the fish are harbingers of imminent natural disasters, according to the Ocean Conservancy.The fish was found two days before a 4.4 earthquake struck Los Angeles.
Cause of death.
The fish was transported to a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (Noaa) facility, where scientists are investigating its cause of death.
Doomsday fish have long, slender bodies that can reach lengths of up to 36 feet, about the size of a school bus.
Foreshadows natural disasters !
The oarfish is commonly referred to as the “doomsday fish,” as some believe it “foreshadows natural disasters, such as earthquakes or tsunamis,” according to the Ocean Conservancy.
From Japan to Los Angeles
The fish has been observed around Japan during major earthquakes, but scientists report that they have yet to establish a link between its appearances and events such as quakes and subsequent tsunamis, as FOX Weather reported.
Two days after the fish was discovered, Los Angeles was struck by a 4.6-magnitude earthquake on Aug. 12, according to the USGS
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Feed of Oarfish
Oarfish feed on plankton, crustaceans and squid by straining them from the water column using specially evolved gill rakes located in the mouth, according to the Florida Museum of Natural History located in Gainesville, Florida.
Family Regalecidae.
Oarfish are large, greatly elongated, pelagic lampriform fish belonging to the small family Regalecidae.Found in areas spanning from temperate ocean zones to tropical ones, yet rarely seen, the oarfish family contains three species in two genera One of these, the giant oarfish (Regalecus glesne), is the longest bony fish alive, growing up to about 8 m (26 ft) in length
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Despite of the larger species are considered game fish and are fished commercially to a minor extent, oarfish are rarely caught alive; their flesh is not well regarded for eating due to its gelatinous consistency.
