2 giant oarfish wash onto California coast, making scientists curious.
It's been the week of the oarfish along the Southern California coast.
A 14-foot oarfish carcass was discovered Friday by a snorkeler off the beach in Oceanside. Earlier in the week, an 18-foot oarfish was found dead off Catalina Island.
The oarfish is the world's largest bony fish and lives mostly at great depths. Because of its size and menacing appearance, the oarfish may be the source of tales of sea serpents.
When oarfish come closer to shore, Feeney said it may be a sign of distress. They could be starving, disoriented or landed in shallower water because of a storm.
"They're usually in the deep ocean, away from land," Feeney said.
Giant oarfish get up to about 27 feet maximum, he said, adding that stories of them reaching 50 or more feet haven't been verified.
