Overview

• The oarfish, known as the 'doomsday fish' due to its association with natural disasters in Japanese folklore, has appeared three times on California beaches in recent months.
• These deep-sea creatures, which can grow up to 30 feet long, are rarely seen near the surface, making their recent strandings noteworthy for scientists.
• Researchers at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography are conducting necropsies to gather data on the oarfish's biology and the possible reasons for their beachings.
• While some link oarfish sightings to earthquakes, scientific studies have found no evidence to support this correlation.
• Environmental factors such as El Niño, red tides, and changes in ocean conditions are being considered as potential causes for the strandings.