Photo courtesy of วิทยาศาสตร์การประมงและทรัพยากรทางน้ำ TSU (Facebook)
Photo courtesy of วิทยาศาสตร์การประมงและทรัพยากรทางน้ำ TSU (Facebook)
A rare deep-sea creature, known as the Oarfish or Ribbonfish, was recently discovered near Adang Island, in the region of Satun Province, Thailand. The Science of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources TSU page reported the sighting of this marine species, recognised scientifically as Regalecus glesne, yesterday, January 3, by the fishing vessel Thepcharoenporn 15.

Belonging to the Regalecidae family, the Oarfish, resembling the mythical serpents or sea dragons of the Western Middle Ages, can grow up to 9 metres in length and weigh up to 300 kilogrammes. However, The Guinness World Records notes this species as having the longest backbone, potentially reaching up to 11 metres.


Jetsada Denduangboripant, a Biology professor at Chulalongkorn University, clarified that this Oarfish was caught in a fishnet in the middle of the Andaman Sea. He debunked the myth that sighting an Oarfish is a sign of an impending earthquake or tsunami, like the one in Japan.

Photo courtesy of วิทยาศาสตร์การประมงและทรัพยากรทางน้ำ TSU (Facebook)
Photo courtesy of วิทยาศาสตร์การประมงและทรัพยากรทางน้ำ TSU (Facebook)
Jetsada mentioned that Oarfish often surface when they are sick or nearing death. Its appearance near Thai waters could be due to changes in the Indian Ocean currents, a phenomenon known as the Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD), causing unusually cold sea surface temperatures.

"The discovery of this Oarfish does not predict earthquakes or tsunamis, it's just a belief. In reality, they mostly surface because they are ill or close to death."

In related news, back in August last year, warnings were given about venomous blue dragon sea slugs on Phuket's Karon Beach. Rarely seen in Thailand, their stings can be fatal.