In Japanese mythology, the deep-sea-dwelling oarfish is a harbinger of impending disaster. For scientists in California, where three oarfish have washed up in recent months, it’s an exciting find.

A silvery 10-foot long creature, the oarfish has fueled fishermen’s tales of sea serpents — and in some cultures has been a portent of natural disasters.

The doomsday fish got its name because it looks like a mythical sea creature, with a long, ribbon-shaped body that can grow up to 30 feet.

This is the third oarfish discovered in Southern California this year. The first was back in August near the La Jolla Shores. The one recovered in Encinitas was a little smaller than the first, measuring about 9 to 10 feet long. Another oarfish was discovered in Huntington Beach in September.

During a recent walk on a San Diego beach, a woman came across a dark omen. At Grandview Beach in Encinitas, an oarfish had washed ashore – a 10-foot, serpentine, ghoul of a sea creature often called the “doomsday fish.

Considered to be the origin of the sea serpent tale, giant oarfish are a species yet to be largely researched by scientists.

The oarfish is commonly referred to as the "doomsday fish," as some believe it "foreshadows natural disasters, such as earthquakes or tsunamis," according to the Ocean Conservancy.

What a week it’s been! But hey, we made it through. Time to crack a cold one, put up our feet, and browse the New York Times science section for something to take our minds off the news while we wind down.