A rare "doomsday fish" spotted near Taiwan: what catastrophe does its appearance portend

An oarfish, the world's longest fish according to the Guinness Book of World Records, was spotted off the east coast of Taiwan. It is called a harbinger of earthquakes.

The rare fish was spotted by a group of divers in the picturesque Ruifang region of Taipei County. They shared photos and videos on Instagram.

In the video, one of the divers reaches out to touch the fish, but sees it swiftly dart away. The oarfish was approximately 6.5 feet long, which makes it smaller than the record high of 36 feet, but the size is still impressive.

Known in Japanese mythology as a harbinger of earthquakes, the appearance of this rare fish with bite marks on its body has raised concerns about potential seismic activity in Taiwan. In addition, these creatures typically live at depths ranging from 656 to 3,200 feet below the ocean surface. The link between paddlefish sightings and seismic events gained prominence after the devastating earthquake and tsunami that hit Fukushima in 2011.

The uncharacteristic appearance of these deep-sea inhabitants of shallow coastal waters further fuels the intrigue. They usually remain hidden from view because they prefer the mysterious depths of the ocean. Scientists and experts are now grappling with the unusual behavior of the oarfish, trying to find out the main reasons for its migration to shallow waters.