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Second Rare Giant Fish Found on Beach in California

By Kamal Nayan | Update Date: Oct 22, 2013 03:43 AM EDT

A rare oarfish was found on a beach in California for the second time in less than a week. The eel-like species were discovered on Friday on a beach in Oceanside.

Previously a marine instructor spotted a dead 18 foot oarfish in shallow water in Santa Catalina Island. Five days later the 14 foot (4.3-meter) fish with pug-like face was found.

Scientists believe that the frequent discoveries of such beached oarfish is completely unusual as the species have become rare. Facts state that fishes are elusive creatures that dive up to depths of 914 meters.

“It may have happened some place on Earth before but it certainly doesn’t happen very often,” said Milton Love, a research biologist at the University of California in Santa Barbara, according to BBC.

The biologist is waiting for the tissue sample of the larger oarfish. He will pass along the tissue sample for DNA sampling. Mr. Love suspect that the deaths of two giant creatures were not coincidental and no human activity should be involved.

According to him, the oarfish are not strong swimmers and might have been carried toward shore by powerful currents.

“There may be ones lying in 50 to 100 feet (15 to 30 meters) of water we’ll never know about,” Love said.

The oarfish is as thick a human torso and sometimes it grows up to a length of 56 feet. Every temperature and tropical waters are suitable for these species. These dive to great depths, so they are less known and remain unstudied.

Love also said that very little is known about the numbers of oarfishes.

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