18-Foot Oarfish Found off Southern California
This photo released courtesy of the Catalina Island Marine Institute taken on Sunday Oct. 13, 2013, shows the crew of sailing school vessel Tole Mour and Catalina Island Marine Institute instructors...

18-Foot Oarfish Found off Southern California

This photo released courtesy of the Catalina Island Marine Institute taken on Sunday Oct. 13, 2013, shows the crew of sailing school vessel Tole Mour and Catalina Island Marine Institute instructors holding an 18-foot-long oarfish that was found in the waters of Toyon Bay on Santa Catalina Island, Calif. A marine science instructor snorkeling off the Southern California coast spotted the silvery carcass of the 18-foot-long, serpent-like oarfish.

Because oarfish dive more than 3,000 feet deep, sightings of the creatures are rare and they are largely unstudied. The obscure fish apparently died of natural causes. Tissue samples and video footage were sent to be studied by biologists at the University of California, Santa Barbara.

The oarfish, which can grow to more than 50 feet, is a deep-water pelagic fish - the longest bony fish in the world, according to CIMI.

They are likely responsible for sea serpent legends throughout history.

Read more

AP PHOTO/CATALINA ISLAND MARINE INSTITUTE

Science Marine Biology Oarfish fish news ocean sea serpent

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