Oarfish Carcasses Stump California Scientists

By Brianna Bigelow 10-21-13

Courtesy: Eduarda Souza’s youtube video

For the second time in less than a week, a rare, snakelike sea serpent has been found off the coast of Southern California.

It is an oarfish which is a deep-sea dweller. Whether it is dead or alive, it is rare to see one.

Early last week the first oarfish was found off the coast of Catalina Island, roughly 15-feet under the surface of the water. Snorkeling instructor Jasmine Santana found the beast, and spent nearly fifteen minutes dragging the 18-foot body onto the shore.

Just five days later on a beach in Oceanside, California, a group of third graders stumbled across yet another carcass. This time, the body was a 14-foot oarfish.

Marine biologists are stunned by these two discoveries. The oarfish is a rare, eel-like creature that has most likely spawned many a sea serpent legend throughout history.  It is believed to live thousands of feet into the depths of the ocean. For decades scientists have only been able to speculate about the oarfish’s specifics. Now scientists can study the creature like never before.