See the rare ‘doomsday’ fish that washed up in Mexico

LOS ANGELES - Beachgoers in Baja California Sur, Mexico, were in for a shock when they spotted an oarfish swimming in shallow waters—an extremely rare sighting given that the species typically resides between 660 to 3,300 feet below the ocean’s surface.

Footage captured the long, ribbon-like fish with iridescent scales and red wispy fins, as one onlooker exclaimed, "No one’s going to believe this!"

Two rare deep-sea creatures spotted within days

Just days earlier, another deep-sea giant made an unexpected appearance. A deep-sea anglerfish was filmed off the coast of the Canary Islands, swimming in broad daylight—an event so unusual that researchers say it may have never been recorded before at that depth.

RELATED: Watch: Deep-sea anglerfish’s rare swim in shallow waters

Both creatures live in the deep, dark parts of the ocean, rarely coming up to the surface unless disoriented, injured, or dying.

Why are oarfish called ‘doomsday fish’?

The backstory:

Throughout history, oarfish have been associated with superstition and disaster. According to legend, sightings of these deep-sea dwellers have been seen as omens of earthquakes, storms, or other natural disasters.

The nickname ‘doomsday fish’ comes from their tendency to surface before seismic events, though scientists have yet to find solid evidence connecting them to earthquakes.

Despite their serpent-like appearance, oarfish are harmless to humans and primarily feed on tiny ocean creatures like plankton.

What makes the anglerfish sighting so rare?

Big picture view:

Anglerfish typically live in complete darkness at depths of up to 6,500 feet. Their eerie appearance—featuring sharp teeth, a large mouth, and a bioluminescent lure—makes them one of the ocean’s most fascinating predators.

RELATED: Rare oarfish swims on Mexican Beach: ‘No one’s going to believe this’

The recent sighting of an anglerfish swimming in daylight off the Canary Islands left marine experts stunned. The creature was filmed by Condrik Tenerife, a marine research group, which called it "a legendary fish that few people will have had the privilege of observing alive."

Most deep-sea anglerfish sightings come from either dead specimens washing up on shore or footage captured by deep-sea submarines—not from a live fish swimming near the ocean’s surface.

What do these rare sightings mean?

Dig deeper:

Experts aren’t sure why two deep-sea creatures were spotted at the surface within days of each other. Some possible explanations include:

• Changes in ocean currents or water temperatures affecting their usual habitat.
• Disorientation due to illness or injury, leading them to shallower waters.
• Natural life cycle events, as some deep-sea fish surface when near death.

While there’s no evidence linking these sightings to impending disasters, their appearance so close together remains a fascinating mystery of the ocean.