Current:Home > MyTwo 'incredibly rare' sea serpents seen in Southern California waters months apart -Thrive Financial Network
Two 'incredibly rare' sea serpents seen in Southern California waters months apart
View
Date:2025-04-13 04:55:49
A dead oarfish, an "incredibly rare" creature considered a symbol of impending doom in Japanese folklore, was recently spotted along the Southern California coast just months after another surfaced in a different location.
The first oarfish was recovered in August by a group of "sciencey" kayakers and snorkelers swimming at La Jolla Cove in San Diego while the other was spotted ashore Grandview Beach in Encinitas last week by Alison Laferriere, PhD candidate at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the University of California, San Diego.
The oarfish in Encinitas was "smaller" than the one observed in San Diego, measuring between 9 and 10 feet, Scripps said in a news release. The deep-sea fish are considered "incredibly rare" since less than 25 have been seen in Southern California waters in over a century, Ben Frable, Scripps' in-house fish expert and a museum scientist, previously shared with USA TODAY.
The elusive specimen, like the one collected in August, will undergo a necropsy to determine cause of death and later be preserved for future study, becoming part of the Scripps’ Marine Vertebrate Collection, one of the largest collections of deep-sea fish in the world.
"We took samples and froze the specimen awaiting further study and final preservation in the Marine Vertebrate Collection," Frable said in a statement. “Like with the previous oarfish, this specimen and the samples taken from it will be able to tell us much about the biology, anatomy, genomics and life history of oarfishes.”
Oarfish sightings may signal 'changes' in ocean conditions, scientist says
Scientists are unable to theorize the reason why the oarfish, let alone two, have washed ashore in the last few months, saying that each specimen collected provides a unique opportunity to learn more about the species.
Especially since there is more than one variable at play in both "strandings," including shifts in the climate patterns of El Niño and La Niña, Frable said.
“It may have to do with changes in ocean conditions and increased numbers of oarfish off our coast. Many researchers have suggested this as to why deep-water fish strand on beaches," Frable said. "This wash-up coincided with the recent red tide and Santa Ana winds last week but many variables could lead to these strandings.”
Many regions in California, including Encinitas and La Jolla, have been classified as Marine Protected Areas, where taking organisms is prohibited.
Should you encounter a unique creature on a Southern California beach, you are encouraged to alert lifeguards and contact the Scripps Institution of Oceanography by phone at (858)-534-3624 or via email at scrippsnews@ucsd.edu.
Oarfish are an omen of impending disaster, Japanese folklore says
The belief that the sight of an oarfish in shallow waters is an omen of an impending earthquake dates back to 17th century Japan, according to reporting by Atlas Obscura. The fish, also known as “ryugu no tsukai,” were believed to be servants of the sea god Ryūjin, according to Japanese folklore.
It’s believed that “Ryugu no tsukai,” which translates to “messenger from the sea god’s palace,” were sent from the palace toward the surface to warn people of earthquakes, according to previous USA TODAY reporting.
There were multiple sightings of the fish reported ahead of the 2011 Tohoku earthquake and Fukishima nuclear disaster, but there is no scientific evidence to suggest that the two events are connected, Hiroyuki Motomura, a professor of ichthyology at Kagoshima University, told the New York Post.
“I believe these fish tend to rise to the surface when their physical condition is poor, rising on water currents, which is why they are so often dead when they are found,” Motomura told the Post.
The “connection” between the two might have to do with the fact that the shimmery creature typically lives in the deep sea, dwelling anywhere between 700 and 3,280 feet below the surface, USA TODAY reported. And it rarely comes up to the surface.
These majestic creatures have been spotted in waters all over the world, with sightings reported in California, Maine, New Jersey, Taiwan and Japan, of course.
Contributing: James Powel
veryGood! (6158)
Related
- Dick Vitale announces he is cancer free: 'Santa Claus came early'
- Pakistani police use tear gas to disperse pre-election rally by supporters of former leader Khan
- A COVID-era program is awash in fraud. Ending it could help Congress expand the child tax credit
- Man convicted of manslaughter in the killing of former New Orleans Saints star Will Smith
- Are Instagram, Facebook and WhatsApp down? Meta says most issues resolved after outages
- China’s top diplomat at meeting with US official urges Washington not to support Taiwan independence
- South Korea says North Korea fired several cruise missiles, adding to provocative weapons tests
- NFL championship game picks: Who among Chiefs, Ravens, 49ers and Lions reaches Super Bowl 58?
- Former longtime South Carolina congressman John Spratt dies at 82
- Q&A: How YouTube Climate Denialism Is Morphing
Ranking
- Selena Gomez's "Weird Uncles" Steve Martin and Martin Short React to Her Engagement
- Got FAFSA errors? Here are some tips on how to avoid the most common ones.
- Tuvalu’s prime minister reportedly loses his seat in crucial elections on the Pacific island nation
- Hold on to Your Bows! The Disney x Kate Spade Minnie Mouse Collection Is on Sale for up to 60% Off
- Nevada attorney general revives 2020 fake electors case
- What is UNRWA, the main aid provider in Gaza that Israel accuses of militant links?
- Virgin Galactic launches 4 space tourists to the edge of space and back
- 'Come and Get It': This fictional account of college has plenty of truth baked in
Recommendation
From family road trips to travel woes: Americans are navigating skyrocketing holiday costs
Rep. Nancy Mace's former chief of staff files to run against her in South Carolina
What women's college basketball games are on this weekend? The five best to watch
Pakistani police use tear gas to disperse pre-election rally by supporters of former leader Khan
Tom Holland's New Venture Revealed
Hold on to Your Bows! The Disney x Kate Spade Minnie Mouse Collection Is on Sale for up to 60% Off
Charges against country singer Chris Young in Nashville bar arrest have been dropped
Hollywood has been giving out climate change-focused awards for 33 years. Who knew?