Doomsday Fish

Doomsday Fish Latest News

Recent appearances of the doomsday fish near Baja California Sur, Mexico have ignited discussions on social media.

About Doomsday Fish

• It is also known as Orafish and the “sea serpent” is a deep-sea dweller that rarely comes near the surface.
• Diet: It is filter feeders and primarily eat krill, plankton and other small crustaceans. 
• Habitat of Doomsday Fish: They are deep-sea dwellers, thriving most often in the zone least explored by scientists to date: the mesopelagic zone (waters down to 1,000 meters). 

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Appearance of Doomsday Fish

• It is a deep-sea creature, known for its long, ribbon-like body and bright orange fins.
• It can grow to more than 30 feet, which makes them quite the sight to behold.

Folklore Related to Doomsday Fish

• In some areas of the world, these creatures are seen as being harbingers of bad news, particularly disasters or destruction.
• The oarfish has the nickname of “Ryugu no tsukai,” or “sea god’s palace messenger,” in Japanese folklore.
• This myth traces back to the 17th century and says that the surfacing of the oarfish is a harbinger of future natural disasters.
• The myth received strong support in 2011 when several oarfish washed up on beaches in Japan only some months before the destructive Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami.

Doomsday Fish FAQs

Q1. Why do they call it the Doomsday fish?

Ans. The eerie nickname “Doomsday Fish” stems from various cultural legends associating oarfish sightings with impending natural disasters.

Q2. How deep do Doomsday fish live?

Ans. The oarfish inhabits the epipelagic to mesopelagic ocean layers, ranging from 250 meters (660 ft) to 1,000 meters (3,300 ft) and is rarely seen on the surface.

Q3 Why do oarfish come to the surface?

Ans. Some researchers suggest rising ocean temperatures, pollution, or deep-sea disturbances.

Source: TOI