FULLERTON, Calif., June 8 (UPI) -- Five beached oarfish have been found along the California coast since last spring. The fifth was found washed ashore on California's Catalina Island on June 1.
The deep sea creature is exceptionally rare, and infrequently encountered in the ocean. But its long, lifeless body is becoming a trend of West Coast beaches. The latest casualty measured 14 feet. Adults can stretch as long as 18 feet. The specimen may have actually been longer, but it appeared to be missing its tail.
The carcass was spotted by Tyler Dvorak, an ecologist and researcher with the Catalina Island Conservancy who was scanning the island's beaches with binoculars.
"I knew what it was immediately because of the one that washed up last year," Dvorak told National Geographic. "It was a pretty weird thing to see."
Dvorak and his fellow researcher contacted David Chan, director of the Pennington Marine Science Center, who quickly came and collected the long, slender fish.
As requested by scientists Natural History Museum of Los Angeles, Chan removed the head, stomach, gonads and organs and stored them in the center's freezer until they could be picked up the following day.
On Tuesday of last week, June 2, biologists from Cal State Fullerton picked up the fish's head and portions of its body. Researchers there are studying how the fish moves. Scientists at the L.A. natural history museum are currently analyzing the fish's DNA to determine its species classification.
There are currently two identified species of oarfish, the smaller plainly named oarfish (Regalecus russellii) and the giant oarfish (Regalecus glesne), which can measure up to 35 feet and prefers cooler water.
But why are all these oarfish arriving on shore?
It's been reported that beached oarfish may precede an earthquake. Fisherman in Japan reported finding several dozen oarfish in days before a massive earthquake hit Chile in 2010.
Other anecdotes and scientific studies have confirmed the possibility of a variety of animals detecting geologic phenomena. Zookeepers in Washington, D.C. reported observing odd animal behavior in the moments leading up to the 5.8-magnitude quake that struck the region in 2010.
Still, it's unlikely that the latest oarfish portends a forthcoming rumble along the San Andreas fault.
