Last March, two oarfish (Regalecus glesne) washed ashore on a beach in Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur, Mexico. The scene, filmed by tourists strolling in the area, quickly went viral on social media. The footage shows the long, silvery fish struggling on the sand while several people try to push them back into the water.
What was most striking was that, after locating the first fish, a second one appeared just a few meters away. Seeing two oarfish together so close to the shore is exceptional , as this species normally inhabits deep waters, between 200 and 1.000 meters deep. Witnesses described the moment as "something out of a movie" and said they had never seen anything like it.
An unusual discovery on the Mexican coast
According to the sisters who filmed the video, it all started when they saw a silvery flash near the shore. As they approached, they realized it was a large oarfish, thrashing out of the water. One of them crouched down to gently guide it back to sea , and other bathers soon joined in. The rescue was difficult because the animal was disoriented and moving clumsily.
The most surprising thing happened when, while they were helping the first oarfish, a second one appeared. The simultaneous presence of two of these animals on the same beach is statistically very rare , and it quickly became a topic of conversation on social media. Some users commented that "two oarfish in quick succession might be trying to tell us something."
What is an oarfish?
The oarfish is one of the longest bony fish on the planet. It can reach up to 17 meters in length and weigh over 200 kilograms. Its body is elongated, silvery, and lacks visible scales, giving it a serpentine appearance. It has no teeth , instead feeding by filtering small crustaceans, squid, and plankton through its gills.
It lives in the mesopelagic zone, where sunlight barely penetrates, and swims vertically to camouflage itself with the water's reflections. Its scientific name is Regalecus glesne , and it is popularly known as the "fish of the end of the world" due to the superstition that associates it with natural disasters. In Japan, for example, it is called ryugu no tsukai, which means "messenger from the palace of the sea god."
The legend of the 'fish at the end of the world'
The oarfish's reputation as a harbinger of disaster dates back centuries. In Japanese folklore, the oarfish is believed to be a messenger of the sea god, and its appearance at the surface is thought to warn of earthquakes or tsunamis. This belief was reinforced after the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake , when nearly twenty oarfish were sighted along Japan's coast in the preceding months. Although there is no scientific evidence, the coincidence fueled the legend.
In other cultures, the oarfish has also been linked to myths. In Greek mythology, it was considered a divine figure, and in some traditions, it was said that "whoever finds one is cursed." Its elongated, silvery appearance has led to it being mistaken for sea serpents for centuries , adding to the mystery of its already enigmatic presence.
What does science say?
Despite the legends, the scientific community remains skeptical. Several studies have analyzed the possible relationship between the appearance de peces rowing and earthquakes, and They have not found a statistically significant correlation.For example, a study published in the Seismological Society of America's bulletin examined 336 sightings in Japan between 1928 and 2011, and none occurred within 30 days of an earthquake of magnitude 7 or higher.
Experts explain that surface appearances are usually due to more mundane causes: illness, disorientation caused by ocean currents, temperature changes, or pollution . Seismologist Kiyoshi Wadatsumi has suggested that, living on the seabed, these fish might be sensitive to tectonic movements, but most scientists consider this an "illusory correlation."
In any case, the recent discovery in Cabo San Lucas has brought this creature back into the spotlight. Beyond superstitions, the oarfish remains a fascinating inhabitant of the deep , and each sighting offers a unique opportunity to study it. Meanwhile, the images of the two silver specimens shimmering under the Mexican sun will continue to generate discussion.
The Ocean Conservancy reminds us that, beyond the legends, the priority should be reducing plastic pollution in the oceans to ensure a healthy environment for all marine species. The oarfish, with its almost mythical appearance, reminds us how much we still don't know about the ocean and the importance of protecting it.
