Doomsday fish now spotted on Indian shores. What does the oarfish signify?
After Mexico, New Zealand and Australia, the 'doomsday' fish has now been spotted on Indian shores. Reports claimed that an oarfish was caught in Tamil Nadu, marking another stop in its rare global appearances.
A viral video on social media shows a group of fishermen finding an oarfish off the coast of Tamil Nadu. In the video, due to the length of the oarfish, which is expected to be around 30 feet, at least seven fishermen had to carry it.
HT.com could not independently verify the authenticity of the video.
Apart from India, the oarfish, which is commonly known as the "doomsday fish" in Japanese culture, has appeared at least three times in the past 20 days in Australia, New Zealand, and Mexico's Baja California Sur.
Also Read: Divers encounter enigmatic Oarfish with mysterious wounds off Taiwan's coast. Watch video
Oarfish are elongated, ribbon-like fish and usually live at the depth of 200 and 1,000 meters. They grow up to over 30 feet (9 meters) in length and are the longest bony fish.
Despite its name as the 'doomsday' fish, oarfish are not harmful to humans and primarily feed on small ocean animals such as plankton and crustaceans.
The oarfish is commonly referred to as the "doomsday fish." In Japanese culture, when an oarfish appears near the surface, it is taken as a warning for an incoming natural disaster.
The deep-sea creatures are said to appear on the surface when they are sick, dying or breeding.
Spotting an oarfish is considered to be extremely rare, and once spotted, it is said to bring a warning.
Before being spotted in Tamil Nadu, an oarfish washed ashore the Ocean Beach near Strahan in Tasmania, Australia.
In February 2025, the doomsday fish was spotted in the shallow waters of Baja California Sur, along Mexico's Pacific Coast.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Hindu
2 hours ago
- The Hindu
From The Hindu, June 20, 1925: Educational problems
London, June 18: Mr. P.J. Harlog, C.I.E., speaking at a dinner to welcome him at the Criterian Restaurant dwelt on the urgency of the difficulties of the educational problem in India. He believed that the great characteristics preserved in historic books and wonderful monuments and paintings in India and in the hearts of the Indian millions would survive any shock of foreign ideas. Regarding unemployment among the University graduates, Mr. Harlog believed that with the right kind of education in Bengal the hides and skins trade might be converted into a leather trade employing far more trained men.
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
3-gun salute for Chitampalli, condolence meet in Solapur on June 22
Kolhapur: Maruti Chitampalli, the renowned naturalist, wildlife conservationist and Marathi author and recipient of the Padma Shri award , received a three-gun salute at a Solapur crematorium before his pyre was lit by his relatives. Chitampalli, who was known as Aranya Rishi, died on Wednesday at 93 years of age. His mortal remains, draped in the Indian tricolour, were taken in a morning procession before cremation. Following Solapur community traditions, Halgi players led the procession with drums and trumpets. Ambadas Kankatti, a vocaliser, honoured Chitampalli by mimicking various bird and animal sounds. The funeral was attended by prominent figures, including district guardian minister Jaykumar Gore and district collector Kumar Ashirwad. Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis posted on X: "He lived like a monk, he knew 13 languages, and expressed many wonders of nature in words. He told the language of birds, he put into words the knowledge possessed by the tribals. He wrote Vanopanishad and Pakshikosh, which will stay with us forever. " NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar wrote on X: "He spent his entire life in the trees and in the company of books. He brought the talk of birds, the life of animals, the sensation of trees, and the heartbeat of the forest into 21 books. He contributed to the development of Karnala Bird Sanctuary, Navegaon National Park, Nagzira Sanctuary, and Melghat Tiger Project." A condolence meet is scheduled for June 22, where attendees will share their memories of Chitampalli.
India.com
2 hours ago
- India.com
‘The Window Shook, The Sky Lit Up': Indian Students Recount Their Escape From War-Torn Iran
New Delhi: The fear does not fade quickly – not after you have watched missiles streak above your roof, not after you have wondered if you would make it home again. One by one, the Indian students – who were evacuated from different regions of Iran – stepped off a special flight in New Delhi this week carried more than just their luggage. They brought home stories of survival – of days spent in fear, of parents who did not sleep and of goodbyes they did not expect to say so soon. Yasir Ghaffar had been in Iran pursuing his studies when the war spiraled. He remembers the nights clearly. The sound of sirens. The shaking windows. The flash in the sky. 'I saw things I never imagined. I saw missiles and heard explosions echo through the night. I am grateful to be back. I will return when peace returns,' he said. Yasir was among 110 Indian students evacuated from northern Iran as part of Operation Sindhu, a government-led mission launched after tensions between Israel and Iran escalated dramatically. The students were first driven to Armenia across the border, then flown out from Yerevan under the Indian embassy's supervision. Their families had been waiting in Delhi, many since the night before – clinging to updates and praying for names on manifests. 'The Window Shook as the Missile Passed Over' Maryam Rose was studying at a university dormitory in Urmia, one of the northern cities close to the conflict zone. Her voice trembled as she described what she lived through. 'One night at 3 AM, a missile flew over our building. The entire window of my room rattled. We could see the trails in the sky. It did not feel real until it did,' she narrated the horror. She still remembers the panic in her dorm – students waking each other, checking on friends and calling family back home. Another student, Aman Nazar from Delhi, said returning felt surreal. 'It is hard to put into words what it means to see your family again. My father has been waiting for days. The situation back there was unbearable. I did not think we would get out,' he said. For Humaira Sadiq, the joy of reuniting with her parents comes with a different kind of heartbreak – the interruption of her studies. She was in her final year and had planned to return home after graduation. 'I never imagined I would have to leave like this. It is painful. But when things unfolded the way they did, we had no choice. We could not even think of completing the semester,' she said. Parents Who Waited, Prayed and Held On Hours before Maaz Haider's arrival were some of the longest for his parents. They waited outside the airport gates from midnight. 'He called us from Iran and said he wanted to come back. He felt the tension there. Before we could even book anything, the government had already begun evacuations. That was a blessing,' said his father. Haider's eyes were fixed on the arrival gate. Arshi, his wife, kept whispering prayers. Another father, Dr. Parvez Alam from Bulandshahr in Uttar Pradesh, stood silently with a garland for his son Samir, who returned after two years in Urmia studying medicine. 'When the bombs started falling, the worry at home never stopped. Every day felt longer than the last. Now that he is back, I can finally breathe,' said Dr. Alam. Operation Sindhu: A Brief Introduction The Indian government launched the operation in response to the rapid military escalation between Israel and Iran, especially after strikes intensified in Tehran, Isfahan and other major cities. Phase-1 of the evacuation focused on students from Urmia and surrounding areas. These students were first moved by road to Armenia, from where they boarded a special flight to New Delhi. More Indian nationals, including those stuck deeper within Iran, are expected to be evacuated in the coming days. As the war rages on, those who made it out cannot help but think of the classmates and friends still behind. And while they are grateful, the weight of what they have witnessed and those they have left behind will stay with them.
