A sunfish weighing a whopping 285 stone (4,000lbs) has washed up on a beach in Italy.
The dead creature was spotted on the shore at Sunset Beach, in Oregon, on Sunday (18 August) morning.
A local seaside aquarium said this type of sunfish, the mola mola, is relatively small in comparison to its relatives, as reported by What’s The Jam.
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There are three different species of mola sunfish – the mola mola, the mola tecta, and the mola alexandrini.
All three can be found all over the globe and are widely distributed throughout the world’s oceans, except for the polar regions.
While this fish only reaches five feet, some sunfish can be as long as 10 feet, weighing 5,000 pounds.
The species usually eats jellyfish and squid.
They also lack a swim bladder, making them slow moving drifters.
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Commenting on the beached mola mola, Briana said: “Having lived here my whole life I have seen a few of these (among a few other first seen creatures) washing up on the beaches. What’s going on out there.”
Heidi added: “Poor thing. Looks like it had thrown up something. Do we know why? I hate seeing this.”
Andrea commented: “Poor guy! I’ve never heard of a Mola Mola before. Thanks for the marine biology lesson!”
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Tiffany wrote: “Sad to see these fish continue to wash ashore.”
Bobbi said: “Quite frankly, I’ve noticed that the water has become warmer lately. It’s really sad to see beautiful creatures washing up ashore like this, maybe it’s got to do with climate change.”
It is not yet clear what led the sunfish to washing up on shore.
Just last year, a British woman was horrified when she thought she had spotted a head bobbing about in Cornish waters.
But it transpired that Niki Hicks, from St Agnes, Cornwall, had spotted a sunfish while on a boat trip.
Quickly getting her camera out to film, she showed the fish, which was very much alive, floating sideways.
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