GEARHART, Ore. — A massive rare fish thought to only live in temperate waters in the southern hemisphere has washed up on Oregon’s northern coast, drawing crowds of curious onlookers intrigued by the unusual sight.
The 7.3-foot (2.2 meter) hoodwinker sunfish first appeared on the beach in Gearhart on Monday, the Seaside Aquarium said in a media release. It was still on the beach on Friday and may remain there for weeks, the aquarium said, as it is difficult for scavengers to puncture its tough skin.
Photos provided by the aquarium showed a flat, round, gray fish lying on its side in the sand. Photos of a person kneeling next to it, and another of a pickup truck parked next to it, gave a sense of its large scale and size.
The stir it has created on social media prompted a New Zealand-based researcher who has studied sunfish to contact the aquarium. After looking at photographs of the fish, Marianne Nyegaard was able to confirm that it was indeed a hoodwinker sunfish — rarer than the more common ocean sunfish — and said she believed it may be the largest such fish ever sampled, according to the aquarium.
In research published in 2017, Nyegaard discovered through genetic sampling and observation that the hoodwinker sunfish, or Mola tecta, was a different species than the ocean sunfish, Mola mola. “Tecta” in Latin means hidden or disguised, referring to a new species that had been hiding in plain sight.
In previous years, the hoodwinker sunfish has washed ashore on the California coast. It’s also again washed ashore more recently in California and Alaska, challenging the theory that it only lives in the southern hemisphere, the aquarium said. It’s also likely that the fish has washed ashore in other parts of the Pacific Northwest but was mistaken for the more common ocean sunfish at the time, the aquarium added.
A rare and mysterious 7-foot fish found washed ashore on Oregon’s coast has captured the attention of people around the world. The massive fish, which has been identified as a hoodwinker sunfish, was discovered by a beachcomber near the small town of Gold Beach.
The hoodwinker sunfish, also known as Mola tecta, is a relatively unknown species of sunfish that was only recently discovered in 2017. This particular specimen is believed to be one of the largest ever found, measuring an impressive 7 feet in length.
The discovery of the hoodwinker sunfish on the Oregon coast has sparked a flurry of interest and excitement among scientists, marine biologists, and nature enthusiasts. The fish’s unusual appearance and massive size have led to speculation about how it ended up on the beach and what its presence might mean for the local marine ecosystem.
One theory is that the hoodwinker sunfish may have been carried by ocean currents from its natural habitat in the southern hemisphere to the shores of Oregon. Another possibility is that the fish was sick or injured and became stranded on the beach.
Researchers are now working to study the hoodwinker sunfish in more detail, in an effort to learn more about this elusive species and its behavior. They hope that by studying this rare specimen, they can gain valuable insights into the biology and ecology of the hoodwinker sunfish, as well as its role in the marine ecosystem.
The discovery of the hoodwinker sunfish on Oregon’s coast serves as a reminder of the incredible diversity of marine life that exists in our oceans. It also highlights the importance of conservation efforts to protect and preserve these unique and often misunderstood creatures.
As news of the rare 7-foot fish found on Oregon’s coast continues to spread, it is clear that this remarkable discovery has captured the imagination of people around the world. With further research and study, we may soon learn more about the hoodwinker sunfish and its place in the vast and mysterious world beneath the waves.
