For centuries, the oarfish has been feared as a harbinger of doom, with sightings often linked to earthquakes and tsunamis. But is there any truth to this deep-sea legend, or is it just superstition?

A rare fish, regarded as a harbinger of doom, has washed up on the shore of Encinitas in southern California. It is the second time this year that an oarfish has been found in the area.