Cannibalistic fish appear inexplicably on American shores

Carnivorous fish Giant eyes and knife-like fangs have appeared off the US coast of Oregon, confounding experts. In a Facebook post on May 1, Oregon State Parks wrote that several animals have been seen on beaches in Nehalem, south of Bondon, in recent weeks.

What’s happening, the post says, is that “no one is quite sure why they reach the beach.”

Longnose lancetfish species (Alephserus ferox) usually lives in tropical and subtropical waters. Although they are found in shallow areas, their habitat The twilight zone, 200 to 1,000 meters below sea level, is preferred.

• Lancetfish seem to have come from prehistoric times; Features include a jaw with open fangs, large eyes, a sail-like fin and a long, sleek body;
• Its scientific genus name means “countless lizard”;
• They have smooth skin and holes along the lateral line;
• At over 2 meters in length, the lancetfish is one of the largest deep-sea fishes.

Why are they showing up on beaches?

Many hypotheses have been speculated by scientists as to why the fish were driven to the beach.

Daniel J., a fisheries research biologist at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Northwest Fisheries Science Center. Kamikawa told Live Science that he couldn’t find any records of mass strandings or lancetfish kills in the past.

He said that usually, a couple of individuals are found scattered along the coast.

There are three possible theories as to why Carnivorous fish Appeared on the beach:

• First, these fish are injured or sick so that they cannot swim efficiently and are washed ashore;
• Secondly, a Storm Take them;
• The third relates to a phenomenon known as temperature shock – when a fish is suddenly exposed to water much colder than its normal temperature range.

Oregon State Parks is asking members of the public to photograph any such fish they find and post them on the agency’s website and NOAA Fisheries West Coast.

Source: ByteWriting