‘Rare find.’ A second terrifying deep-sea fish washes up on California beach

A second extremely rare deep-sea fish has been found washed up on a Southern California beach, marine biologists say.

Someone discovered the body of a Pacific footballfish, a type of anglerfish like one seen in the film “Finding Nemo,” on a beach in Encinitas north of San Diego on Friday, Dec. 10, the Scripps Institution of Oceanography reported on Twitter.

Only 31 known specimens of the fish, normally found at extreme ocean depths, have been collected worldwide, the institution said.

Another Pacific footballfish was found Nov. 13 on Black’s Beach in La Jolla, California, McClatchy News reported. Researchers weren’t notified in time to collect that one.

The Encinitas find is a mature female measuring 13 inches long and weighing 5.5 pounds, the institution said.

“Experts don’t have any evidence to theorize why several deep-sea fish have washed ashore recently, but are interested in learning more about the specimens that have been collected, as well as any new ones that might wash up,” the institution said on Twitter.

The scary-looking anglerfish dangles its own bioluminescent light to lure prey in the darkness of the ocean depths, marine biologists say.

They are normally found at depths of 650 to 2,600 feet.

“There is still much we don’t know about these creatures,” the institution wrote on Twitter. Among other things, researchers took X-rays of the fish and plan to examine its stomach contents to try to learn more about its diet.

Researchers ask that anyone coming across an unusual fish or other sea life along a beach notify them at scrippsnews@ucsd.edu so the specimen can be collected.

“Rare specimens like this footballfish are incredibly valuable to the marine science community,” the institution wrote.

This story was originally published December 15, 2021 at 1:44 PM with the headline "‘Rare find.’ A second terrifying deep-sea fish washes up on California beach."