In a week of unusual maritime events, two rare deep-sea oarfish, often dubbed “doomsday fish,” have washed ashore in separate incidents in Tamil Nadu, India, and Tasmania, Australia. These mysterious appearances have sparked ancient legends and fueled widespread speculation online, particularly regarding their historical connection to impending natural disasters.
The monstrous, serpentine form of these enormous, shimmering silver fish has long been linked to tales of mythical sea serpents. Oarfish are among the longest bony fish species globally, inhabiting the ocean’s depths thousands of feet below the surface, and are rarely sighted alive.
Earlier this week, fishermen in Tamil Nadu reeled in a colossal 30-foot oarfish from the waters. Described as glistening silver with a distinctive red crest, the sheer size of the creature necessitated half a dozen men to manage it.
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Onlookers quickly shared images on social media, dubbing the fish the “Pralaya fish” – a local term deeply rooted in ominous predictions of earthquakes or tsunamis. The sight stirred a mix of awe and apprehension among the local community.
Just days later, on Tasmania’s remote west coast, another oarfish made a surprising appearance on Ocean Beach, discovered by a dog walker. Sybil Robertson, who stumbled upon the unusual find, recounted her experience to The Daily Mail.
“I just knew it was something unusual and weird,” Robertson stated. “I could see it was a long fish, but I had no idea what kind of fish. As I got closer, I could see the beautiful coloring around its head, and the markings on it were fabulous.”
Robertson estimated the fish to be a “good three paces” in length. Despite some injuries, she noted it otherwise appeared to be in good condition. She promptly captured photos of the remarkable specimen and shared them with a social media group called Citizen Scientists of Tasmania, where its identity as an oarfish was confirmed.
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While ancient beliefs tie oarfish sightings to impending natural calamities, scientists offer a more grounded explanation.
They suggest that these rarely seen creatures typically surface when disoriented, sick, or near death, making their recent appearances a subject of both scientific interest and enduring folklore. As these colossal fish continue to emerge from the deep, they leave in their wake a ripple of wonder, fear, and a renewed fascination with the mysteries of the ocean.
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