It’s not often that researchers get to study the oarfish, as the sea creature dwells in very deep water. But it was a sight to see this week when one washed ashore on Catalina Island, off the coast of Los Angeles.
"Seeing the oarfish yesterday was indeed one of the highlights of my 25-year career as a marine science educator," Annie MacAulay told CNN. "Being able to see and touch the longest species of bony fish was amazing!"
MacAulay stumbled upon the massive oarfish by accident during an educational kayaking trip with a group of children. It’s unclear what caused the death of the oarfish, which was between 14 and 17 feet long.
"Even though the beautiful red crest, the eye and part of the tail had been consumed, it was still an incredible sight," MacAulay added about the fish that lacks scales.
The mysterious creature, which also washed up on California beaches in 2013, has inspired tons of folklore for years. There’s a Japanese tale, for example, that says an oarfish will come to the surface when there’s an earthquake.
The oarfish discovery comes almost a month after the opah was deemed the first warmblooded fish, bringing some more excitement to marine life.
See the oarfish in the video below and please SHARE if you are excited by this finding!
