A rare specimen of oarfish has been found stranded on a beach in Mexico. Although it is not an unheard of occurrence, the presence of this creature raises fears related to popular beliefs that associate it with omens of misfortune. The oarfish, known for its impressive length, can reach up to three meters and more.
The oarfish
The oarfish, scientifically identified as Regalcus glesne, commonly known as the king of herrings. This deep-sea creature belongs to the order Lampridiformes and lives at depths ranging from 200 to 1000 meters. It is distinguished by its elongated, ribbon-like, scaleless body, silvery in color, a red dorsal fin, and a crest atop its head. Its oar-like pelvic fins contribute to its distinctiveness. Although its average length is about three meters, specimens have been reported reaching 11 meters, with a maximum documented weight of 200 kg.
His habits
Despite little information about its biology, the oarfish is known to feed on plankton, small crustaceans, and mollusks, posing no threat to larger animals or humans.
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The legend
In folk tradition, oarfish are often considered a harbinger of misfortune. Japanese legend, for example, holds that these fish strand themselves in anticipation of impending disasters. It is believed that an increase in oarfish sightings near the coast could herald earthquakes and tsunamis. However, the scientific community has reiterated the lack of evidence linking the surfacing of these creatures to catastrophic events. A 2019 analysis highlighted this lack of evidence, while some researchers suggest that their surfacing may be related to climate change.
Professor Hiroyuki Motomura, an ichthyologist at Kagoshima University, commented: "The connection to reports of seismic activity dates back many, many years, but there's no scientific evidence of a connection, so I don't think people should be concerned. These fish tend to surface when they're in poor condition, rising with water currents, which is why they're often dead when found."
Comments (1)
This news about the oarfish is very interesting but also a little worrying. Legends about it are widespread and suggest negative events. It would be useful to have more scientific information to clarify doubts.