For hundreds of years, mariners and fishermen knew this sea creature as a herald of woe. Seeing one in the water or even washed up on shore was an omen, a warning of some impending disaster, typically a natural one, such as an earthquake or tsunami. In Japan, the creature was named “ryugu no tsukai,” a messenger from the palace of the sea god. Others dramatically dubbed it the Harbinger of Doom, or simply the Doomsday Fish. You may know it as the oarfish.
Then again, this might be your first time hearing the name. That’s because oarfish are fairly rare creatures to spot in the wild, even though they can be found in pretty much every ocean on the planet, with the exception of the coldest seas at the poles. Nevertheless, the creature is indeed elusive, which has no doubt helped maintain its aura of mystery down through the years. Here’s what we know about the oarfish.
What Is an Oarfish?
A few different species of oarfish exist in the world, but the one most people get excited about is the giant oarfish (Regalecus glesne). The name certainly fits: the giant oarfish is considered the longest bony fish in the world; lengths in the 20- and 30-foot range are not at all unheard of.
