How did the 'Doomsday Fish' get its name, and what is the story behind it?
Deep in the darkness and beneath the waves of the ocean, lives a bizarre creature that has been a part of many myths and legends. Popularly called the 'doomsday fish,' the oarfish is rarely seen by humans, yet when it appears and gets washed ashore, it sends chills down people's spines because of its creepy ribbon-like body and scary image.
This fish is surrounded by many folklores and legendary stories that add up to its eerie reputation in the minds of the people!
There are many theories about how the oarfish got its name. One of which is its long, flat bodies that look a bit like oars. Another theory is that it might come from the way they move through the water, using their fins in a kind of gentle, rowing motion. Either way, the name seems to fit their odd, elegant shape and the unusual way they swim in the deep sea.
The giant oarfish can surprisingly grow to about 9 m (30 ft), and its ribbon-like body with orangish red fins and thread-like tail makes it look scary and helps it move in a sinuous, undulating motion.
While this fish inhabits the mesopelagic zone, typically between 200 m and 1,000 m depth, which is quite deep within the ocean, recently, there have been examples when there have been about 20 sightings of this ominous fish across the world.
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Its appearance is linked to
Japanese folklore
In Japan, the oarfish is called "Ryūgū no tsukai", meaning 'Messenger from the Sea God's Palace.' According to Yokai, an online database dedicated to Japanese folklore, it is described as a massive creature with a human-like face, horns, and sometimes even long hair or a beard.
Legend says that these mysterious fish would appear along Japan's coastline as harbingers of deadly disease. Supposedly, those who saw a portrait of the creature or heard its message would be spared.
In modern times, the ryūgū no tsukai has become more closely tied to warnings of natural disasters, especially earthquakes.
How did the fish get its name?
In 2011, Japan experienced its most powerful recorded earthquake, which triggered a massive tsunami and a nuclear crisis at the Fukushima power plant. Tragically, over 20,000 lives were lost. In the months leading up to the disaster, several oarfish were seen washing ashore, leading to the belief that their appearance was a warning.
More recently, a similar pattern seemed to happen in the US when an oarfish washed up near San Diego on August 10, 2024, just two days before an earthquake struck the area. That November, another sighting occurred in Grandview Beach, Southern California, followed by another quake in December. All these incidents have given it the name 'doomsday fish'.
Are there any scientific proofs?
While these events might seem connected, the Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America reported that the 'relationship between deep‐sea fish appearances and earthquakes was hardly found.' Similarly, the Ocean Conservancy says that when deep-sea creatures like the oarfish come to the surface, it's more likely due to illness, disorientation, or injury than any supernatural warning.
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