Kayakers and snorkelers exploring the Southern California coast spotted an extremely rare oarfish, nicknamed a “doomsday fish” since they are seen in some parts of the world as harbingers of imminent disasters. It’s one of less than two dozen confirmed sightings of an oarfish in the state in over 120 years, according to UC  San Diego’s Scripps Institution of Oceanography.

The oarfish is a “strikingly large, odd-looking fish” with a long, silvery, ribbon-shaped body, according to the Ocean Conservatory. The fish can grow to more than 30 feet long, and have large eyes and “foreboding” red spines in a crown-like cluster. Typically, these fish are deep-sea dwellers and thrive in waters that are the least explored by scientists.

  • @Leeks
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    724 days ago

    It could be. Maybe it surfaced because of some detection, then the depressurization killed it.

    • @11111one11111
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      124 days ago

      I’d say that would be evolutionary retardation if that’s an actual thing lol

      • @Balex
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        324 days ago

        Evolution isn’t some sentient force striving for perfection. There is a lot of retarded stuff that we have evolution to thank for. This could just be a side effect of some other trait that normally helps the fish survive. Plus, earthquakes don’t happen often enough to affect evolution in the long run.

      • @[email protected]
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        fedilink
        124 days ago

        Nah that’s teeth. You get two sets for your entire life and they suck. You have the ability to grow more as evidenced by your second set, but fuck you.

        • @11111one11111
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          121 days ago

          Lol I’ve been banking on all the news about new teeth regrowing technology. Been banking on it for 20 years before the tech even broke ground 😂