June 7th 2024.
On a stormy Monday, a massive and peculiar fish washed ashore on Gearhart Beach in Oregon, far from its usual home in the southern hemisphere. The strange creature, a 7.3-foot hoodwinker sunfish, caught the attention of people around the world, with many flocking to the beach to catch a glimpse of it. The Seaside Aquarium, located on Oregon's northern coast, reported the discovery on their Facebook page, stating that the fish had caused quite a stir on social media.
While the hoodwinker sunfish may be a new and fascinating sight for many, it was a significant discovery for New Zealand-based researcher Mariann Nyegaard. As it turns out, Nyegaard had been studying this elusive species, also known as Mola tecta, and had published a research paper on it in 2017. She suspected that the fish, with its unique appearance and behavior, was not the commonly known ocean sunfish, Mola mola.
With the help of photographs taken by the aquarium staff, Nyegaard was able to confirm that the fish was indeed a hoodwinker sunfish, and possibly the largest specimen ever recorded. This was a surprising revelation, as the hoodwinker sunfish was thought to only reside in temperate waters of the southern hemisphere, but had recently been spotted in colder waters as far north as Alaska.
The aquarium staff, at Nyegaard's request, took tissue samples, measurements, and photos of the fish, solidifying its identity. They also noted that the hoodwinker sunfish has a tough skin that makes it difficult for scavengers to puncture, which could explain its relatively intact state when it washed ashore. The aquarium encouraged people to go see this rare and remarkable fish for themselves.
In addition to the hoodwinker sunfish, another peculiar aquatic animal was recently spotted in Missouri. In late May, an angler caught a northern snakehead, an invasive species with an air-breathing ability and a head resembling that of a snake. With these unusual sightings, it is clear that there is still so much to discover and learn about the creatures that inhabit our oceans. Stay updated on the latest news and stories by following us on Whatsapp.
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