Doomsday Fish

Doomsday Fish Latest News

Two giant oarfish, rarely seen deep-sea creatures sometimes called “doomsday fish,” were recently spotted near the shore in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, in an extremely rare sighting.

About Doomsday Fish

• The oarfish is commonly known as the “doomsday fish”.
• It is a deep-sea dweller that rarely comes near the surface.
• Scientific Name: Regalecus glesne
• Habitat: 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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Doomsday Fish Features

• It is known for its long, ribbon-like body that enables the species to float inconspicuously throughout the water column.
• It also boasts large eyes and foreboding red spines that stick out to form a crown-like cluster. 
• Oarfish can reach up to 30 feet (about 9 metres) long, making them the longest bony fish known to exist in the ocean.
• They float vertically and use their reflective bodies as a type of camouflage.
• It is a filter feeder and primarily eats krill, plankton, and other small crustaceans. 

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.

Source: MC