While many folklores have mysterious myths with varying levels of truth, the Japanese belief that Oarfish are the bringers of doom has peaked recent news headlines.

Sparking recent headlines is that a washed up Oarfish was found off the coast of California. According to USA Today, Oarfish have only been seen 20 times off of California’s coast in the last century.  The oarfish is rarely seen by humans because it resides in the deep ocean layers that are seldom visited. While to many, seeing the fish would be a reminder of the still elusive creatures in the deep and vast Pacific waters, one culture believes that the fish is linked to troubles ahead.

The Oarfish, which is also known as the Doomsday fish, earned its nickname based on the Japanese superstition behind the fish. In Japan, the fish is referred to by the name, “Ryugu no tsukai” or the “messenger from the sea god’s palace”. In Japanese culture, the Oarfish has been linked to upcoming earthquakes since roughly 400 years ago. One particularly infamous example is when the fish was sighted several times off the coast of Japan in 2011, before a 9.0 magnitude earthquake and tsunami rocked the Japanese coast causing three nuclear reactors to melt down in the Fukushima Nuclear Disaster.

The Oarfish itself is very unique compared to other fish. Oarfish are unusually long, with the Giant Oarfish sometimes reaching lengths north of 50 feet, which would make it the longest known fish. Oarfish typically have a silverish color, and could be described as a supersized eel that swims in the ocean. Some researchers have reported that when they touched the Oarfish that it gave off a light electric shock, but due to the rarity of finding the Oarfish, more research is needed. Additionally scientists also believe that the Oarfish can “willingly detach a body part” according to Nature World Facts.

While the Oarfish sighting might spark some fears, it is a reminder of how little we truly know about our oceans.