Omen from the deep: Rare 'doomsday fish' caught in Australia
A disturbing discovery was made by fishermen participating in night fishing off the coast of Melville Island in Australia. The two men managed to catch an animal known by the local community as the "doomsday fish," primarily because it appears just before catastrophes.
In recent weeks, Australian media have been abuzz with the incredible catch by two fishermen from the Northern Territory. During one of their night expeditions, they caught one of the rarest and most seldom-seen deep-sea fish. The unusual appearance of the animal perfectly illustrates the uniqueness of this catch.
The fish, approximately 11 metres long, usually resides in oceanic depths about 1 kilometre below the water’s surface. To survive, its body has adapted to the harsh conditions at the ocean floor, giving it a long eel-like form and, most strikingly, a large jaw reminiscent of that of a horse.
This is complemented by eyes the size of plates. However, this is not the only reason the fish's appearance evokes fear. Local fishermen have known it since medieval times when dead specimens were first recorded washing ashore. Over time, it was noted that this sight was usually linked to significant events.
They caught the "doomsday fish"
The appearance of the "doomsday fish" near humans is almost always associated with the arrival of a deadly catastrophe. This was also the case the last time in 2011, when the ocean washed dead deep-sea fish ashore, and just a few weeks later, Japan was struck by an earthquake that claimed the lives of as many as 15,899 people.
Due to the appearance of deep-sea fish near humans before catastrophes, they are considered harbingers of bad news. Consequently, the local community has given them the nickname "doomsday fish." Legend has it that anyone who sees it receives a sign from a higher power about impending danger.
