A massive serpent-like creature from the deep sea washed ashore on a New Zealand beach. A marine biologist was sunbathing on a Dunedin beach when she observed a beachgoer looking into something in the shallows.

Isaac Williams, a local, was the first to notice the creature.

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The odd discovery was researched by Dr Bridie Allan of the University of Otago, who recognised it as an oarfish. “It wouldn’t have survived, there is no way. I’ve seen enough dead fish to know it was on its last legs. So I went and took a look. That’s when I identified the fish. They are super rare. This is about the fifth sighting in New Zealand.” Dr Allan stated.

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Isaac Williams tried to help the oarfish start swimming, however, it kept on floating on the surface.

She also stated that there were some deepwater canyons off the coast of Otago, but whether they originated there is “pure speculation.” Separately, in an interview with Newsweek, Dr Allan stated that while she did not end up accepting the fish as a specimen, she wished she had.

The video that circulated on the internet reveals the creature hiding in shallow waters. In the background, a man was heard stating, “It feels like a shark.”

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According to the media outlet Stuff- Emma Burns, curator of natural sciences stated that at Otago Museum, one of the earliest oarfish specimens was collected from another Otago beach, Moeraki, and shipped to London in 1883. Natural History Museum’s collection currently has the specimen.

Ms Burns also stated that photographs of the oarfish revealed that it had lost some of its unique silver along its skin, implying that it had been bumping into things before being washed up.

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Oarfishes are enormous, elongated pelagic lampriform fish that belong to the Regalecidae family.

An oarfish drifting in the shallow waters of Aramoana Beach, according to Dr Allan, is not a good indication.

She noticed the fish was alive but distressed once she discovered it.