Odd-Looking Longnose Lancetfish Washes Up on Oregon Beach, Shocking Locals

Locals strolling along the Oregon coast got an unexpected shock when an "odd-looking" deep-sea fish washed ashore, leaving both beachgoers and aquarium staff scratching their heads.

The Seaside Aquarium shared photos of the mysterious visitor in an April 23 Facebook post, later identifying the creature as a longnose lancetfish. With its intimidating fangs, enormous eyes, and body that looks straight out of a sci-fi flick, this is definitely not your average Pacific Northwest fish story.

According to aquarium experts, the longnose lancetfish is a rare catch for the coast. They described it as having "beautiful large eyes, sharp fang-like teeth, and a serpent-like body"—basically, the kind of fish you wouldn't want to meet in a dark underwater alley.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) joined in, saying these creatures "look like they swam out of prehistoric time." Equipped with a sail-like fin and the ability to grow over 7 feet long, lancetfish usually hang out in the deep sea, sometimes more than a mile below the surface. So, seeing one sunbathing on the beach is as rare as finding a Starbucks without a line.

Curious scientists at Seaside Aquarium wasted no time and dissected the fish to analyze what was inside its stomach—a move any true crime fan would appreciate. The findings? This species is the ultimate opportunist, munching on over 90 types of marine life, including their own kind. They even have a weakness for plastics, which is tragically on-brand for ocean life these days.

Photos showed the lancetfish’s last meals: squids and small fish, still mostly intact. That’s because their digestion is, well, a bit lazy. The aquarium explained, "They have poor digestion, so when you look at the contents of their stomachs, you will usually see whole fish and other prey items." Scientists hope that poking around in lancetfish bellies will help track changes in the marine food web, especially in response to climate events like El Niño and La Niña.

While it's not unheard of for these creatures to turn up on Oregon beaches during spring and summer, it's never less than a spectacle. The aquarium often gets calls from puzzled beachcombers, wondering what on earth they’ve stumbled upon. And honestly, who could blame them for being a little spooked by a seven-foot-long deep-sea oddball?