Huge 'Harbringer of Doom' oarfish washed up on holiday hotspot beach – leaving tourists horrified – The Mirror
Spotted by tourists in Mexico, an oarfish washed up onto shore, surprising holidaymakers – and a while later, the “harbinger of natural disasters” apparently died in the shallow waters
A deep-sea oarfish – believed to be a ‘harbinger of natural disasters’ – has washed up on a beach in front of stunned holidaymakers.
Spotted by tourists in Mexico, the marine animal looked like it was barely moving in the shallow water. As it arrived on the shoreline, curious onlookers crowded around the strange fish.
Moments later, the oarfish was then seen stretched out on the sand after apparently dying in front of the holidaymakers.
The deep-water fish was spotted on Stone Island in Sinaloa State, Mexico, on March 17. However, it is not known if the group called the authorities to remove the beast's large carcass.
Due to their size and shape, oarfish resemble ‘sea serpents’ and are considered harbingers of earthquakes and misfortune in mythology. They are one of the longest fish in the ocean and can measure up to 55ft in length and weigh more than 440lbs.
With a scaleless body, the oarfish has slimy skin covered in a protective coating known as guanine. Due to its ability to adapt to different temperatures, oarfish are found in most of the world's oceans, except for the poles.
They live at depths of between 200 and 1,000m (656 and 3,280ft) and sightings are not very common. Sometimes they wash up on beaches after a storm or when they suffer a serious injury.
When they do appear, many locals take it as a sign that a natural disaster is about to strike. This isn't the first time an oarfish has been caught. A massive deep-sea oarfish believed to be a ‘harbinger of natural disasters’ was caught by fishermen earlier this month.
The creature, which was already dead when it was hauled on board the vessel, was caught in the Andaman Sea about eight nautical miles from Phuket, Thailand. The authorities said they intend to display the nearly 9ft 4ins – almost three meters long – in a museum.
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