A rarely seen oarfish appeared in shallow water in Baja California Sur, Mexico, on Feb. 9, surprising beachgoers. The deep-sea-dwelling oarfish is believed to be the world’s largest bony fish, and can grow as long as 26 feet.
Not much is known about the existence of these fish, including how long the fish live or how many are in the ocean. Most researchers believe oarfish live some 200 to 1,000 feet underwater, where the current tends to be calm and there is very little sunlight. Others say they have been known to stick closer to the surface.
Japanese mythology suggests that the appearance of the fish can signify impending earthquakes. The superstition was so popular that researchers in Japan addressed it, publishing a paper in 2019 that debunked any significant link.
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