Claim:
An image posted to social media between September and October 2024 authentically depicted two men holding so-called doomsday fish for identification by two sources. B.T. Ratings are still not known at this time for these claims.
On Oct 23 2024, an Australian Reddit user uploaded a post purporting to show two men from Australia posing after catching what has since been known as an “oarfish.” As of this writing, this image had garnered over 102,000 upvotes and 4,900 comments – which may or may not indicate actual proof that two Australian men actually caught such fish.
Two fishermen from Australia have discovered what some are terming as the “doomsday fish”.
Similar posts also surfaced across social media in October, including on X, TikTok, Instagram and Facebook – one particularly successful X post had amassed 32.4 million views at time of writing.
Picture of two men holding an odd looking fish (with bulging eyes), that could dwarf them if held vertically, according to social media users. Some even speculated that its capture might indicate impending doom for humanity.
Although “doomsday fish” is an actual species of marine animal, this photo does not depict one. Instead it features one of its relatives such as ribbonfish. Thus we rated this claim as miscaptioned.
Source of Photo
The photograph first made an appearance online on Sept 20, 2024 when Fishing Australia TV shared it via their page that is associated with Australian television station 9 News.
(Fishing Australia TV/Facebook)
Fishing Australia TV recently posted on their Facebook page an entry asking viewers to “name this crazy creature,” with some suggesting a doomsday fish (oarfish).
Does The Photo Depict A Doomsday Fish? Gabriel Afonso, an ichthyologist studying fish from Virginia Insitute of Marine Science (VIMS), identified it as a ribbonfish from Trachipterus which comprises at least six species according to Fishes of Australia.
Australia is home to at least one known species of ribbonfish: the southern ribbonfish. This deepwater species typically inhabits water depths around 3,281 feet (1 km), reaching lengths up to 7.22 feet (2.2 meters). What Is A Doomsday Fish?
Washington D.C.-based non-profit environmental advocacy group Ocean Conservancy revealed that what has come to be known as the “doomsday fish” is actually known by its real name of an oarfish.
As its Latin name — Regalecus glesne — indicates, the Oarfish belongs to Regalecus rather than Trachipterus and therefore earns its moniker of “doomsday”, due to being seen as foreboders of disaster or destruction by Ocean Conservancy.
Human encounters with oarfish are extremely rare due to their deep sea habitat spanning 3,300 feet (1 km). If one does surface closer to the surface, chances are high it is sick, dying, or disoriented and needs attention immediately. OCEANA advises its membership that any sighting nearer the surface likely indicates illness or disorientation and needs medical assistance immediately.
The Florida Museum reports that an oarfish’s ribbon-like body can grow to 36 feet (11 meters). As such, its presence has inspired numerous sea monster myths and legends.
Oarfish have distinct features which do not correspond with those shown in photos shared to Facebook, such as having red dorsal fins that run along its length and an arched caudal tip as seen by images published by Florida Museum.
Snopes reached out to Fishing Australia TV for more details regarding when and where the fish in this photo was caught; we will update this article if they respond. Our sources include both Snopes as well as Fishing Australia TV as sources.
YouTube: Fishermen Catch an Unusual “Doomsday Fish.” Accessed 2 Nov 2024 “Fishermen Capture Terrifying “Doomsday Fish” in Rare Sighting of Deep-Sea Creature with Bizarre Head Shape.” UNILAD reports on 24 October 2024 a “Doomsday Fish Sighting in Australia 145591-20241024.” Fishesofaustralia.net.au (2021). Trachipterus [online], Available at https://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/genus/1527 [Accessed 5 November 2024]. Gabriel Vinicius Felix Afonso has taken an interest in these sightings of Doomsday Fish in Australia.” Martin, Jennifer M. and Eric J. Hilton’s taxonomic review of Trachipteridae (Acanthomorpha: Lampridiformes), with particular reference to taxa found within Western Pacific Ocean waters was published as Zootaxa 5039 no. 2. Accessed November 2, 2024. “Massive “Doomsday Fish” Caught In Australia: Are They an Ode To An Earthquake?”, Biotaxa Research Journal 3, Sept 2021 pp 301-50 Times Now News Service published on 25 Oct 2024 an article entitled, ‘Massive Doomsday Fish Caught In Australia – an Omen Of An Earthquake Article-114563869’ which describes Oceana’s Oarfish species at https://oceana.org/marine-life/Oarfish, providing further insight as to their origins as Doomsday Fish (Perez Jennifer. “Why Are Oarfish Commonly Referred To as Doomsday Fish”). Accessed 2 Nov 2024 Perez Jennifer wrote her essay entitled “Why Are Oarfish Commonly Referred To as Doomsday Fish?” which explored further the subject further, providing greater detail as regards what causes their appearance was. Oarfish have long been considered “Doomsday Fish”. To read more on this issue visit Ocean Conservancy’s Blog on 11/8/2023 with regards to this, go here oc.org/2023/11/8/oarfish-known-doomsday-fish/. For taxonomy toolkit information go here portphillipmarinelife.net.au/species/6328, with Accessed 2 Nov 2024: “Regalecus Glesne.” Discover Fishes at Florida Museum. UFL.edu/Discover-Fish/Species-Profiles/Regalecus-Glesne. Accessed 2 Nov 2024.”—” Discover Fishes at Florida Museum.ufl.edu/discover-fish/species-profiles/regalecus-glesne/. Accessed November 2, 2024. TikTok – Make Your Day (http://tiktok.com/@dailymailau/video/7418448214426144018?lang=en). Accessed November 2 2024
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