Fishermen in the Andaman Sea off Phuket, Thailand, made an extraordinary discovery recently when they caught a rare nine-foot oarfish. The creature, known as the ‘harbinger of doom,’ has sparked fascination and fear due to its eerie appearance and mysterious nature.
Oarfish, also known as Regalecus glesne, are deep-sea creatures characterised by their long, ribbon-like bodies and lack of scales. They can grow up to an astonishing 17 meters long and weigh up to 199 kilograms, making them one of the largest bony fish in the ocean. Despite their size, oarfish are rarely seen by humans, as they typically inhabit the depths of the ocean, specifically the mesopelagic zone, which ranges from 250 to 1000 meters deep.
Dr Veera Wilasri, the director of the Zoology Division at the National Science Museum (NSM), informed The Nation that their team found the dead oarfish in a relatively intact condition, with its skin, muscles and organs still well-preserved. The only noticeable damage was to its head, which occurred during the retrieval process from the water.
Measuring 2.85 meters in length and weighing 8.6 kilograms, this oarfish was a significant find. Veera noted that it was the first time an oarfish had been discovered in the Andaman Sea off the coast of Phuket. The discovery was made by the skipper of the P. Massaya Namchoke 4 fishing boat.
Following the find, local fishery officials and the Phuket Fishing Research and Development Center collaborated to study the oarfish carcass before handing it over to the NSM. Veera highlighted that this discovery provided the NSM with a valuable opportunity to study the physical characteristics and feeding behaviours of the oarfish, enhancing their understanding of this elusive species.
Oarfish are known for their appearance in myths and legends, with some cultures believing them to be a harbinger of doom or danger. In Japanese mythology, the oarfish is believed to appear before earthquakes or tsunamis, leading to its nickname, the ‘Doomsday Fish.’
While the discovery of the oarfish has sparked fear among locals, with some believing it could be a sign of an impending earthquake or tsunami, experts caution against jumping to conclusions. Jessada Denduangboripant, a biology professor at Chulalongkorn University, suggests that oarfish surfacing near the water’s surface is more likely due to illness or changing currents, rather than being a predictor of natural disasters, according to Metro UK.
Despite the unsettling connotations associated with oarfish sightings, experts are eager to study these creatures further to better understand their behaviour and ecology. The oarfish carcass, along with another oarfish found last month off Satun Province, will undergo expert analysis before being displayed in a local museum.
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