A deep-sea oarfish – believed to be a ‘harbinger of natural disasters’ – has washed up on a tourist beach, sparking worry among locals.
The sea beast was spotted on the beach by a local resident who initially didn’t know what it could be.
He posted pics of the mysterious fish on Facebook on 15 April.
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One local commented: “Spooky story but there is a nickname for this fish and it’s called the ‘Doomsday fish’. The legend is that if you see an oarfish, it is a warning sign from higher powers that disasters such as earthquakes are soon to occur.”
Jose said: “When those fish come out, a natural disaster follows they say.”
Manuel wrote: “It’s a bad omen when one of them surfaces, they bring an earthquake or destructive hurricane.”
Isela remarked: “The end of the world is here *insert ice age scene.”
The oarfish was spotted on a beach in La Paz, Baja California Sur, Mexico.
Due to their size and shape, oarfish resemble ‘sea serpents’ and are considered harbingers of earthquakes and misfortune.
They are one of the longest fish in the ocean and can measure up to 55 feet in length and weigh over 440 lbs.
Their body is scaleless and the skin has a slimy, silvery protective coating known as guanine.
Due to their ability to adapt to different temperatures, oarfish are found in most of the world’s oceans with the exception of the poles.
They live at depths of between 200 and 1,000 metres (656 and 3,280 feet) and sightings are not very common.
Sometimes they wash up on beaches after a storm or when they suffer a serious injury.
When they do appear, many locals take it as a sign that a natural disaster is about to strike, as reported by Need To Know.
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