A 7-foot-long ocean sunfish, also known as a Mola mola, recently washed ashore at Hug Point State Park in Arch Cape, Oregon, attracting the attention of local aquatic experts. The Seaside Aquarium posted pictures of the creature on Facebook, noting that it was “creating quite a stir.” Although the fish had been dead for some time, it was still considered an interesting site for those who wanted to see it. The aquarium reported that the dead fish was 6.9 feet long, which is an average size for a sunfish. Mola mola can grow up to 10 feet long and weigh as much as 5,000 pounds.
The Seaside Aquarium explained that sunfish feed heavily on jellyfish, which are abundant at this time of year. Pictures shared by the aquarium showed the gray, wrinkled fish in a state of decay. It was noted that three sunfish have washed ashore in Clatsop County since June, with one of them being a unique hoodwinker sunfish, also known as a Mola tecta. This particular sunfish was 7.3 feet long and considered one of the largest hoodwinker sunfish ever seen by humans. Sunfish washing ashore is not uncommon, as they reside off the Oregon Coast. The recent increase in reports may be due to the newfound interest in documenting these strandings and collecting information from them.
Some Facebook users who had seen the fish in person reported on its deteriorating state and strong odor. One individual mentioned that the fish had washed to the south end of Hug Point beach and was emitting quite an aroma. Another person recalled seeing the fish the previous week when it was already in a deteriorated state. This recent find of a deceased sunfish on the beach is not the first in recent months, as other sunfish have washed ashore in the area. The interest in documenting these occurrences, particularly with the discovery of new sunfish species like the hoodwinker sunfish, has contributed to an increase in public awareness and engagement.
The discovery of a 7-foot-long ocean sunfish on an Oregon beach has captured the attention of local aquatic experts and marine enthusiasts. The Seaside Aquarium, which posted pictures of the deceased fish on Facebook, reported that it was an average size for a sunfish, which can grow up to 10 feet long and weigh up to 5,000 pounds. These sunfish feed heavily on jellyfish, which are abundant in the area at this time of year. Along with the recent discovery of a hoodwinker sunfish, also known as a Mola tecta, washing ashore, interest in documenting and studying sunfish strandings has been growing.
The recent discovery of a hoodwinker sunfish in Clatsop County, Oregon, has sparked interest in the strandings of sunfish along the Oregon Coast. The 7.3-foot-long fish, which was one of the largest hoodwinker sunfish ever seen by humans, was found washed ashore in June. This unique species has only been described in the past 10 years and is believed to have been the first Mola tecta documented in Oregon due to its recent designation as a new species. The Seaside Aquarium noted that the increase in reports of sunfish strandings may be attributed to the newfound interest in studying and documenting these occurrences.
Facebook users who have seen the deceased sunfish in person reported on its deteriorating state and strong odor. The fish washed to the south end of Hug Point beach, emitting a noticeable aroma that caught the attention of locals. The interest in documenting these sunfish strandings has been growing, particularly with the recent discovery of new sunfish species like the hoodwinker sunfish. The Seaside Aquarium continues to collect information from these strandings to further research and study the ecology of sunfish in the region. This recent find of a sunfish on an Oregon beach adds to the growing body of knowledge about these intriguing marine creatures.
