People around the world have long associated the massive "sea snake" with earthquakes.

Divers spotted an enormous oarfish off the coast of Taiwan, and the video has been making the internet go crazy.

The footage was taken by divers in late June and shows them interacting with a six foot long creature that appears to have holes all over its silvery skin.

In Japanese folklore, the fish are seen as messengers of disaster and have earned the title "Messengers from the Sea God’s Palace." Legends claim that deep-sea creatures can be portents of catastrophe, showing up before earthquakes and tsunamis.

According to National Geographic, six oarfish was seen just days prior to the tragic 2017 earthquake that struck southern Philippines.

NatGeo does make it clear, however, that oceanographers have a very different opinion about these majestic creatures.

Mark Benfield, an ecologist and oceanographer at Louisiana State University, said that it was difficult to imagine what would happen before an earthquake to cause the oarfishes to leave their [mesopelagic zones] and move to shore.

The folklore of oarfish living near the seabed was also questioned.

The longest bony fish, the oarfish, can reach a length of 50 feet.

Sea serpents are believed to have been inspired by their appearance in cultures around the world.

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Title: Video of Giant 'Doomsday' Oarfish Off Taiwan Coast Has People Worried
Sourced From: www.toofab.com/2023/07/20/giant-doomsday-oarfish-taiwan-coast/
Published Date: Thu, 20 Jul 2023 19:41:02 +0000

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