A colossal aquatic wonder that washed ashore on a northern Oregon beach last week has been identified as a newly discovered species of sunfish, according to a local aquarium. The Seaside Aquarium reported the discovery of a 7.3-foot long specimen found on Gearhart Beach, located north of Seaside, Oregon, on June 3rd.
Upon its arrival, the enormous fish promptly caused quite a stir on social media, drawing crowds to the stormy beach for a glimpse of this unusual marine creature. The aquarium later clarified that the fish was not an ocean sunfish or Mola mola, as initially believed, but rather a different species identified by New Zealand researcher Marianne Nyegaard.
Nyegaard is well-acquainted with the hoodwinker sunfish, also known as Mola tecta, which she helped discover and name in 2017. This species, previously thought to inhabit only the Southern Hemisphere, has recently begun appearing on U.S. Pacific Ocean beaches, much to the surprise of local residents and researchers alike.
Divers in Monterey Bay captured images of two hoodwinker sunfish in 2019, marking one of the first confirmed sightings of this new species in Central California, according to the Monterey Bay Aquarium. The latest discovery on an Oregon beach has since led Nyegaard to contact the Seaside Aquarium for a genetic sample of the fish.
In response, the aquarium provided more photographs, measurements and tissue samples, which allowed Nyegaard to confirm that it was indeed a hoodwinker sunfish and possibly the largest specimen ever sampled. Beachgoers in northern Oregon can expect to see this rare massive fish up close for at least a few more weeks, as its tough skin makes it resistant to scavengers.
The Seaside Aquarium encourages people to visit the beach and witness this remarkable aquatic oddity firsthand. With its unique features such as a bullet-like shape, tough skin, and small mouth with beak-like teeth, the hoodwinker sunfish is undoubtedly an extraordinary sight to behold.
