The deep-sea-dwelling oarfish, a sign of disaster in Japanese mythology, is an exciting find for U.S. scientists. Very little is known about the critters.

Alison Laferriere, a graduate student at Scripps Institution of Oceanography, stumbled upon the 9.5-foot long fish during a beach walk. "I thought, 'Wow, this is amazing.

Last week, Scripps Institution of Oceanography PhD candidate Alison Laferriere found the deceased 9.5-foot specimen at Grandview Beach in Encinitas.

(Alison Laferriere/Scripps Institution of Oceanography) Oarfish found at Encinitas’s Grandview Beach. (Alison Laferriere/Scripps Institution of Oceanography) ...

The Encinitas fish was found by Scripps Ph.D. candidate Alison Laferriere, and both were scooped up by the world-famous Scripps Institution of Oceanography for further testing with the help of ...

Alison Laferriere, a graduate student at Scripps Institution of Oceanography, stumbled upon the 9.5-foot long fish during a beach walk. "I thought, 'Wow, this is amazing.

The latest was on Nov. 6, when an oarfish was discovered at Grandview Beach by Alison Laferriere, a doctoral candidate at Scripps Institution of Oceanography.

Alison Laferriere Scripps Institution of Oceanography Kayakers and snorkelers discovered a larger oarfish in August in La Jolla Cove, McClatchy News previously reported.

Another oarfish has made its way from the deep sea to the coast of San Diego County in Southern California.