An 18 foot oarfish carcass was discovered by snorkeler Jasmine Santana off a coast in Southern California, and it may be the culprit of all those sea monster legends of yore.

According to CNN, Santana saw the 18 foot oarfish floating about 15 feet underwater, and upon realizing it was dead, proceeded to drag it back to shore by its tail.

"I was first a little scared," said Santana. "But when I realized it was an oarfish, I knew it was harmless.

It took 14 others to drag the 400-pound, 18 foot oarfish to the shores of Toyon Bay, California.

"I was really amazed. It was like seeing something in dream," said Mark Waddington the senior captain of the CIMI sailing school vessel the "Tole Mour."

"Oarfish are found in all temperate to tropical waters, but are rarely seen, dead or alive. It is believed that oarfish dive over 3,000 feet deep, which leaves them largely unstudied, and little is known about their behavior or population," said an official press release from CIMI, a non-profit marine science education group.

Reportedly, the 18 foot oarfish carcass will be buried in the sand until it decomposes, after which its skeleton will be put up for display.

Given the size and somewhat intimidating look of the oarfish, it is possible they are responsible for many of the sea serpent, sea monster legends and sightings.