People who fish in the deep blue sea rarely catch anything unusual, but that’s exactly what happened to a group of fishermen off the coast of Mauritius in the Indian Ocean. Unilad shared a short clip of a guy holding up a fish that looks like glass, and viewers wondered if it was AI-generated.
The video is short—just 16 seconds—and shows a man standing in a boat holding a long, eel-like fish. The fish looks like a sea monster straight out of a horror film!
@unilad It looks like glass!! 😲 🎥: IG / jau.ray_fishing #UNILAD #oarfish #rare #giant #animals #cool #transparent #glass #clear #fish #fishing
Incredible! The fish featured in Unilad’s video is actually a very rare oarfish, and people had a lot to say about it. One commenter said simply, “AI generated! No way that’s real!”
@allured shared, “You caught aluminum foil.” @S T VV E S pointed out, “It’s reflective, not transparent.” @superwmnsidol joked, “Puuuttt thaaaat thing back where it came from or so help meeeeeeee…” @Miguel added, “In Japanese folklore, they represent upcoming catastrophic events.” Another commenter shared, “Oarfish, normally down around 3,000 feet. Usually surface when sick.”
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All About Oarfish
It’s extremely unusual to find an oarfish floating around. TODAY shared an article in 2024 of an oarfish that was found on a Southern California beach shoreline, one of only 21 that have been found there since 1901.
“Oarfish are elusive creatures that dwell in the deep ocean — often as far as 3,300 feet below the surface — in the mesopelagic zone, a dark region beyond the reach of sunlight.
These mysterious fish, which can grow up to 20 feet long, remain largely unstudied by scientists, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.”
TODAY also backs up the claim that people refer to oarfish as the ‘doomsday’ fish, “Rare, monstrously-proportioned and strangely-shaped, oarfish have sparked myths and legends for centuries and are sometimes referred to as the “doomsday fish” due to their reputation as predictors of natural disasters or earthquakes.”
While these fish may look scary with their huge eyes, red spines, and large mouths, Ocean Conservancy shares, “Oarfish are filter feeders and primarily eat krill, plankton, and other small crustaceans.” So, if you ever happen to run into (or swim into!) one, don’t worry, they don’t see you as their next meal!