Rare ‘doomsday fish’ caught in Tiwi Islands goes viral
Fishermen land rare 'doomsday fish' with unique head shape in Tiwi Islands
Two fishermen have reeled in a rare ‘doomsday fish’, a deep-sea creature with an unusual head shape. Capturing fish is common, but this particular catch stands out due to its unique head and massive size.
Curtis Peterson of Tiwi Islands Adventures caught the enormous fish off Melville Island’s coast in the Tiwi Islands during a moonlit fishing session. The creature, dubbed the ‘doomsday fish’, has since gone viral after being posted on the Fishing Australia TV Facebook page.
A photo of the fish also appeared on Reddit, with many users sharing their thoughts. One commented, “That fish looks straight out of a sci-fi movie!” Another added, “I will always think it’s wrong to see people proudly pose with dead animals, especially when they’re rare.” A third remarked, “I’ve never seen anything like this before, what a fascinating creature!”
Bizarre Doomsday fish w/seahorse head caught in Aussie. There is an old myth that when oarfish come up from the deep it is to warn people of an imminent earthquake. This caused a stir in 2011 when 20 oarfish washed ashore months before Japan's earthquakehttps://t.co/vTJhqVZN3C https://t.co/qfbB87spXF
— Lizzie N (@LizzyRevelation) October 23, 2024
The fish, believed to be an Oarfish, typically resides at depths of up to 1,000 metres, making sightings exceptionally rare. Most Oarfish are found washed ashore already dead.
NT News fishing columnist Alex Julius noted, “It’s the first time I’ve ever heard someone land a fish like that up here. It’s also very rare to land one of these fish, most being found washed up ashore already deceased.”
The nickname ‘doomsday fish’ isn’t just an internet creation. Ancient folklore associates Oarfish sightings with natural disasters in countries like Japan.
What Other Media Are Saying
- For The Win article highlights a rare oarfish catch in Australia, emphasizing the creature’s deep-sea habitat and its mythical “doomsday” status, debunking earthquake warnings.(read more)
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some common questions asked about this news
What is the ‘doomsday fish’?
The ‘doomsday fish’ is a rare deep-sea creature, believed to be an Oarfish, with an unusual head shape.
Where was the ‘doomsday fish’ caught?
It was caught off Melville Island’s coast in the Tiwi Islands.
Why is it called the ‘doomsday fish’?
Ancient folklore associates Oarfish sightings with natural disasters in countries like Japan.
How deep do Oarfish typically live?
Oarfish typically reside at depths of up to 1,000 metres.
Why is capturing an Oarfish so rare?
Most Oarfish are found washed ashore already dead, making live captures exceptionally rare.
