Second Rare Oarfish Washes Ashore in Southern California

The discovery of two deep-sea 'doomsday' fish in recent months prompts scientific inquiry into possible environmental changes.

Oarfish are deep-sea creatures rarely seen on the surface, with less than 25 sightings in Southern California over the past century.
The latest specimen, measuring around 10 feet, was found at Grandview Beach in Encinitas by a Scripps Institution of Oceanography PhD candidate.
Researchers are exploring potential causes for these strandings, including changes in ocean conditions, climate patterns like El Niño, and recent red tides.
Oarfish are often associated with myths predicting natural disasters, though there is no scientific evidence linking them to events like earthquakes.
The specimens are preserved for further study at the Scripps Marine Vertebrate Collection to better understand their biology and life history.