In La Ventana, a town along the East Cape, locals stumbled upon a rare sight—a small giant oarfish had washed ashore. Known for its elusive nature, the giant oarfish typically inhabits deep ocean waters, making any sighting a noteworthy event. This species, recognized as the longest ray-finned fish in the world, carries various names such as the Pacific oarfish, king of herrings, ribbonfish, and streamer fish.
Despite its grand title, the oarfish found in La Ventana was modest in size compared to the record 23-foot specimen discovered by U.S. Navy SEAL trainees in 1996 at Naval Amphibious Base Coronado.
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These fish, including the giant oarfish and its relative, R. russelii, are sometimes mysteriously referred to as "earthquake fish," due to the folklore that they appear on the surface just before or after an earthquake—an intriguing behavior that continues to puzzle and fascinate scientists and enthusiasts alike.
