The rarely seen, 12-foot-long oarfish found floating off San Diego marks only the 20th sighting of this deep-sea creature in California since 1901.
Oarfish have a mythical reputation as predictors of natural disasters, including earthquakes, although scientific evidence to support this claim has not been established.
Typically residing in the mesopelagic zone of the ocean, oarfish can grow over 20 feet in length and thrive in deep waters where light does not reach.
Researchers from NOAA and Scripps are planning a necropsy to investigate the cause of death for the deceased oarfish retrieved by snorkelers and kayakers.
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