The oarfish has long been referred to as a doomsday fish, a reference that likely stems from Japanese folklore, which considered spotting such a fish a bad omen of natural disasters.

If one oarfish landing on a beach is a sign of a disaster to come, how bad will it be if three wash up in quick succession?

Anyone in Southern California interested in seeing one up close can visit the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, where an oarfish found in Catalina Island is on display.

What caused the diesel electric-powered submarine to plummet to such depths, below where giant octopi and oarfish tend to roam, is unclear.

Who wouldn't think, for example, that the giant oarfish, the longest bony fish in the world was some kind serpent?