Rare Hoodwinker Sunfish Discovered on Oregon Coast: A Scientific Mystery Unveiled

A rare hoodwinker sunfish, a subspecies that only lives in temperate waters in the Southern Hemisphere, was found stranded on the Oregon coast, drawing the attention of researchers. The sunfish first appeared on the beach in Gearhart on June 3 and remained there for several days due to scavengers finding it difficult to puncture its thick skin. Photos shared by the Seaside Aquarium captured the moment the large flat gray fish lay face down on the sand, emphasizing its size.

After seeing photos of sunfish carcasses, a New Zealand researcher contacted the aquarium and confirmed that it was indeed a hoodwinker sunfish, not the more common ocean sunfish (Mola mola). Marianne Nyegaard believes this may be the largest sunfish ever sampled. In a study published in 2017, Nyegaard discovered that the hoodwinker sunfish is a different species from the ocean sunfish, with a smoother and more streamlined body and multiple humps.

The hoodwinker sunfish is believed to be concentrated in cold regions of the Southern Hemisphere, including New Zealand’s waters. Despite previous beliefs that they only lived in these areas, sunfish of this subspecies have been found washed up on California’s coast in 2019 as well as more recently in California and Alaska, challenging earlier theories about their habitat.