Current:Home > ScamsTwo 'incredibly rare' sea serpents seen in Southern California waters months apart-VaTradeCoin
Two 'incredibly rare' sea serpents seen in Southern California waters months apart
lotradecoin updates View Date:2024-12-25 22:31:34
A dead oarfish, an "incredibly rare" creature considered a symbol of impending doom in Japanese folklore, was recently spotted along the Southern California coast just months after another surfaced in a different location.
The first oarfish was recovered in August by a group of "sciencey" kayakers and snorkelers swimming at La Jolla Cove in San Diego while the other was spotted ashore Grandview Beach in Encinitas last week by Alison Laferriere, PhD candidate at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the University of California, San Diego.
The oarfish in Encinitas was "smaller" than the one observed in San Diego, measuring between 9 and 10 feet, Scripps said in a news release. The deep-sea fish are considered "incredibly rare" since less than 25 have been seen in Southern California waters in over a century, Ben Frable, Scripps' in-house fish expert and a museum scientist, previously shared with USA TODAY.
The elusive specimen, like the one collected in August, will undergo a necropsy to determine cause of death and later be preserved for future study, becoming part of the Scripps’ Marine Vertebrate Collection, one of the largest collections of deep-sea fish in the world.
"We took samples and froze the specimen awaiting further study and final preservation in the Marine Vertebrate Collection," Frable said in a statement. “Like with the previous oarfish, this specimen and the samples taken from it will be able to tell us much about the biology, anatomy, genomics and life history of oarfishes.”
Oarfish sightings may signal 'changes' in ocean conditions, scientist says
Scientists are unable to theorize the reason why the oarfish, let alone two, have washed ashore in the last few months, saying that each specimen collected provides a unique opportunity to learn more about the species.
Especially since there is more than one variable at play in both "strandings," including shifts in the climate patterns of El Niño and La Niña, Frable said.
“It may have to do with changes in ocean conditions and increased numbers of oarfish off our coast. Many researchers have suggested this as to why deep-water fish strand on beaches," Frable said. "This wash-up coincided with the recent red tide and Santa Ana winds last week but many variables could lead to these strandings.”
Many regions in California, including Encinitas and La Jolla, have been classified as Marine Protected Areas, where taking organisms is prohibited.
Should you encounter a unique creature on a Southern California beach, you are encouraged to alert lifeguards and contact the Scripps Institution of Oceanography by phone at (858)-534-3624 or via email at [email protected].
Oarfish are an omen of impending disaster, Japanese folklore says
The belief that the sight of an oarfish in shallow waters is an omen of an impending earthquake dates back to 17th century Japan, according to reporting by Atlas Obscura. The fish, also known as “ryugu no tsukai,” were believed to be servants of the sea god Ryūjin, according to Japanese folklore.
It’s believed that “Ryugu no tsukai,” which translates to “messenger from the sea god’s palace,” were sent from the palace toward the surface to warn people of earthquakes, according to previous USA TODAY reporting.
There were multiple sightings of the fish reported ahead of the 2011 Tohoku earthquake and Fukishima nuclear disaster, but there is no scientific evidence to suggest that the two events are connected, Hiroyuki Motomura, a professor of ichthyology at Kagoshima University, told the New York Post.
“I believe these fish tend to rise to the surface when their physical condition is poor, rising on water currents, which is why they are so often dead when they are found,” Motomura told the Post.
The “connection” between the two might have to do with the fact that the shimmery creature typically lives in the deep sea, dwelling anywhere between 700 and 3,280 feet below the surface, USA TODAY reported. And it rarely comes up to the surface.
These majestic creatures have been spotted in waters all over the world, with sightings reported in California, Maine, New Jersey, Taiwan and Japan, of course.
Contributing: James Powel
veryGood! (16296)
Related
- Atmospheric river and potential bomb cyclone bring chaotic winter weather to East Coast
- New tech devices for the holidays? Here's how to secure your privacy
- The 1972 Andes plane crash story has been told many times. ‘Society of the Snow’ is something new
- Coach-to-player comms, sideline tablets tested in bowl games, but some schools decided to hold off
- Sabrina Carpenter Shares Her Self
- Wife's complaints about McDonald's coworkers prompt pastor-husband to assault man: Police
- Kentucky secretary of state calls for a ‘tolerant and welcoming society’ as he starts his 2nd term
- Men staged string of armed robberies so 'victims' could get immigration benefits, feds say
- Atmospheric river and potential bomb cyclone bring chaotic winter weather to East Coast
- Looking to get more exercise? Here's how much you need to be walking each day.
Ranking
- Sabrina Carpenter Shares Her Self
- How to Watch the 2024 Golden Globes Ceremony on TV and Online
- The First Teaser for Vanderpump Villa Is Chic—and Dramatic—as Hell
- Things to know about Minnesota’s new, non-racist state flag and seal
- ParkMobile $32.8 million settlement: How to join class
- Rob Lowe explains trash-talking in 'The Floor' TV trivia game, losing 'Footloose' role
- Dry January tips, health benefits and terms to know — whether you're a gray-area drinker or just sober curious
- US intel confident militant groups used largest Gaza hospital in campaign against Israel: AP source
Recommendation
-
KISS OF LIFE reflects on sold
-
RHOSLC's Season Finale Reveals a Secret So Shocking Your Jaw Will Drop
-
Spaniard imprisoned in Iran after visiting grave of Mahsa Amini arrives home after release
-
Big city crime in Missouri: Record year in Kansas City, but progress in St. Louis
-
Secretary of State Blinken is returning to the Mideast in his latest diplomatic foray
-
Los Angeles County sheriff releases video of fatal shooting of woman who reported domestic violence
-
US intel confident militant groups used largest Gaza hospital in campaign against Israel: AP source
-
Interested in fan fiction? Here’s what you need to know to start.