Doomsday Fish: What kind of creature is it and why are people afraid to see it?
August 4, 2024
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There have been repeated reports in the network about the appearance of the “doomsday fish” – an oarfish living at great depths. According to Japanese legends, this rare
There have been repeated reports in the network about the appearance of the “doomsday fish” – an oarfish living at great depths. According to Japanese legends, this rare fish is a harbinger of earthquakes and tsunamis. But is there a scientific basis for such fears?
The Rower: Giant of the Deep
The oarfish is the longest bony fish in the world, reaching up to 15 meters in length. Its unusual appearance and rare encounters with humans have given rise to many myths and legends, including ancient stories about sea serpents.
Japanese legend about the “messenger of the sea dragon god”
In Japanese mythology, the oarfish is known as the “ryugu no tsukai”, a messenger from the palace of the sea dragon god. It is believed that these fish come to the surface to warn people of impending earthquakes and tsunamis.
Fishermen catch ‘doomsday fish’, California 2019
The emergence of the legend in modern times
This old legend gained popularity again after several devastating earthquakes and tsunamis in the 2010s. People began to associate the appearance of oarfish near the shore with future disasters.
Scientific research
Scientists analyzed oarfish observations and earthquake records from the same period. The results showed that only one observation could be related to the earthquake, making the connection between the appearance of this fish and natural disasters unlikely.
Although the myths and legends surrounding the “doom fish” continue to live on, scientific evidence does not confirm their validity. The appearance of oarfish near shore is most likely due to natural factors such as currents or changes in water temperature, not future catastrophes. However, this does not diminish the importance of oarfish as a unique and mysterious inhabitant of the ocean depths that deserves our attention and research. Source
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