Description

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Context :

Recent sightings of a rare oarfish have raised concerns about potential natural disasters.
Many are drawing connections between the fish's appearance & folklore that suggests the fish appears before seismic events.
And it was recently found off the coast of Baja California Sur, Mexico.

About the Doomsday Fish:

Scientific Name: Regalecus glesne
Common Name: Oarfish . it is also called Doomsday Fish
Distribution: Oarfish are found in deep sea waters across the Pacific, Atlantic, & Indian Oceans.
Habitat: They live at depths between 200 to 1 000 meters near continental slopes & oceanic trenches.

Physical & Biological Features:

Size: The longest bony fish in the world. They are capable of growing up to 11 meters in length.
Appearance: The oarfish has a ribbon like body that is shiny silver in color, with a red dorsal fin running the length of its body.
Diet: The fish feeds on krill, plankton, & small crustaceans.
Lifespan: The oarfish is estimated to live up to 20 years. But it is rarely seen due to its deep sea habitat.

Theories Linking Oarfish to Natural Disasters:

Theory

Details

Folklore & Earthquake Myths

- In Japanese mythology, oarfish is called Ryugu no tsukai (Messenger from the Sea God’s Palace).

- it is believed to surface before earthquakes and tsunamis.

- they gained attention after oarfish washed ashore before the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake in Japan.

Scientific Explanations & Skepticism

- Some researchers think oarfish may be sensitive to seismic activity due to deep-sea fault lines.

- A 2019 study found no proven link between oarfish sightings and earthquakes.

- Experts suggest sightings may result from illness, deep sea currents, or changes in water temperature and pressure.

Source: TOI

PRACTICE QUESTION

Q. Why is the oarfish, also known as the Doomsday Fish, linked to natural disasters according to folklore?

A) It is believed to cause seismic events.
B) Its appearance is thought to precede earthquakes and tsunamis.
C) It has been found to predict volcanic eruptions.
D) It appears only after seismic events.

Answer:
B) Its appearance is thought to precede earthquakes and tsunamis.

Explanation:

● In Japanese mythology, the oarfish is called Ryugu no tsukai (Messenger from the Sea God’s Palace).

● It is believed to surface before earthquakes and tsunamis, which is why its sightings are often linked to seismic events.

● This belief gained attention after oarfish were found washed ashore before the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake in Japan.