A lot of speculation towards this giant sea creature has been on the rise since Surigao City, Philippines was hit by a 6.7 magnitude earthquake and prior to the said disaster that killed 8 people, a giant oarfish was seen in the shore, which many people believe that the oarfish sighting was a warning that the giant sea animal has somehow knew that disaster was about to happen.
The National Geographic has these facts about the mysterious sea creature to set the records straight:
1. The oarfish is the world’s longest bony fish.
2. Giant oarfish tastes like gelatinous goo.
3. Giant oarfish eat tiny plankton and aren’t dangerous.
4. Oarfish lack scales.
5. Oarfish have been said to forecast earthquakes.
According to the reports, a 10-foot-long dead oarfish was caught by fishermen off the coast of Agusan del Norte days before the devastating earthquake took place.
Dr. Rachel Grant , a researcher in animal biology who study the possibility of detecting earthquakes using animal behavior said that the 'myth' about the oarfish being able to sense the forthcoming earthquake can be possible.
In research published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health in 2011, Grant and a research team found that tectonic stresses in the Earth's crust send "massive amounts of primarily positive air ions into the lower atmosphere."
When these ions reach a body of water, they oxidize "water to [create] hydrogen peroxide. Other reactions at the rock-water interface include the oxidation or partial oxidation of dissolved organic compounds," the authors wrote. The resulting compounds "may be irritants or toxins to certain species of animals," possibly resulting in the toads' migration from an otherwise welcoming pond.
However, another scientist does not conform to the idea that animals can detect the forthcoming earthquake. Catherine Dukes said: "The question is, can we detect it in the environment?" And can animals detect a sudden rise in atmospheric ozone?
None of these hypotheses, however, is ready to be developed into an animal-based, early-warning system for earth tremors."
"This is not a way to predict earthquakes," Dukes said. "It's just a way to warn that the Earth is moving and something — an earthquake, or a landslide or something else — might follow."
Dr. Rachel Grant , a researcher in animal biology who study the possibility of detecting earthquakes using animal behavior said that the 'myth' about the oarfish being able to sense the forthcoming earthquake can be possible.
In research published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health in 2011, Grant and a research team found that tectonic stresses in the Earth's crust send "massive amounts of primarily positive air ions into the lower atmosphere."
When these ions reach a body of water, they oxidize "water to [create] hydrogen peroxide. Other reactions at the rock-water interface include the oxidation or partial oxidation of dissolved organic compounds," the authors wrote. The resulting compounds "may be irritants or toxins to certain species of animals," possibly resulting in the toads' migration from an otherwise welcoming pond.
However, another scientist does not conform to the idea that animals can detect the forthcoming earthquake. Catherine Dukes said: "The question is, can we detect it in the environment?" And can animals detect a sudden rise in atmospheric ozone?
None of these hypotheses, however, is ready to be developed into an animal-based, early-warning system for earth tremors."
"This is not a way to predict earthquakes," Dukes said. "It's just a way to warn that the Earth is moving and something — an earthquake, or a landslide or something else — might follow."
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