Hoodwinker sunfish: Rare fish washes up on California beach
March 2, 2019 07H:39 GMT/ZULU
Image copyright
THOMAS TURNER/REUTERS
Image caption
The hoodwinker sunfish was only discovered in 2014
by Tamara Kachelmeier and Biodun Iginla, BBC News Environmental reporters, Santa Barbara
A rare fish thought to live in the southern hemisphere has washed up in Santa Barbara, California.
The appearance of the seven-foot (2.1m) hoodwinker sunfish has baffled scientists, who question how the fish made it so far from its home waters.
An intern at the University of California spotted the animal at the Coal Oil Point Natural Reserve.
It took researchers several days to properly identify the creature, which was only discovered in 2014.
Photos of the giant fish first appeared on the Coal Oil Point Facebook page, and experts from around the world weighed in to help identify the creature.
Image Copyright Coal Oil Point Reserve
The animal was named "hoodwinker" after its discovery after eluding researchers for so many years.
Marianne Nyegaard, a marine scientist who found and named the fish, told CNN she "nearly fell out of my chair" when she saw the pictures of the beached traveller.
"When the clear pictures came through, I thought there was no doubt," she said. "It's intriguing what made this fish cross the equator."
The hoodwinker is larger and sleeker than other species of sunfish, weighing up to two tonnes (2,000kg).
ADVERTISEMENT
They reportedly favour more temperate waters, such as off the coast of Chile or New Zealand.
A different form of sunfish appeared twice off the west coast of Scotland in a week last September.
RELATED TOPICS
SHARE THIS STORY ABOUT SHARING
- Rare sunfish spotted in Isle of Man waters
- 10 September 2014
- 'First time' sunfish washes up at Kimmeridge
- 10 November 2016
US & CANADA
Huawei chief's extradition process begins
- 2 March 2019
- From the section
- US & Canada
Full article Huawei chief's extradition process begins
Warmbier family rebuke Trump praise of Kim
- 1 March 2019
- From the section
- US & Canada
Full article Warmbier family rebuke Trump praise of Kim
Two men arrested at Texas execution
- 2 March 2019
- From the section
- US & Canada
Full article Two men arrested at Texas execution
More Videos from the BBC
- Seven of Karl Lagerfeld’s most iconic moments
- How your language reflects the senses you use
- Skiplagging: The travel trick that airlines hate
- Should you go vegan for the sake of your gut?
- Athens’ bizarre underground phenomenon
- Goldfinger and the myth of a Bond girl's death
Elsewhere on BBC
- BBC News
- Fat cat returned four times finds home
- BBC.com
- Lunenburg's Architecture and Maritime History Draw Visitors
- BBC News
- Joe Biden reverses 'decent Pence' remarks
You Might Also Like
- BBC Culture
- Can a film be banned in the US?
- BBC Travel
- Canada’s most beautifully built city
- BBC Culture
- Why these anatomical models are not disgusting
From Around the Web
- Take A Look At Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's Net Worth
- Livestly
- [Gallery] These Photos Will Make You Rethink Your Next Nature Trip
- History Daily
- A Look Inside The British Royal Family's Homes
- Lonny Magazine
- Quiz: Know a Deadly Snake When You See One?
- HowStuffWorks
- America’s Least-Visited National Monuments
- Far and Wide
- A Car Like No Other: The New 2019 Honda Civic
Posted by Biodun Iginla at 9:47 PM Email This
Labels: BBC News Environmental reporters, Coal Oil Point Natural Reserve,Hoodwinker sunfish, Marianne Nyegaard, Santa Barbara, southern hemisphere, Tamara Kachelmeier and Biodun Iginla
No comments:
Post a Comment
Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)
POPULAR POSTS
- Mexican troops kill 'El Chapo' family security chief
- 28 February 2018 - 03H20 GMT/UTC/ZULU TIME by Renee Celeste and Biodun Iginla, France24, Mexico City in Share ? ...
- 'Difficult' fight for Hezbollah on Lebanon-Syria border
- 26 July 2017 - 22H55 GMT/UTC/ZULU TIME by Nasra Ismail and Biodun Iginla, France24, JURUD ARSAL (LEBANON) in Share ...
- Analysis: Jacob Zuma resigns
- by Susan Peterson and Biodun Iginla, Political News Analysts, The Economist Intelligence Unit, Johannesburg The disastrous legacy of Sou...
- Italy election: Polls open in unpredictable contest
- March 4, 2018 08H:12 GMT/UTC/ZULU TIME Share this with Facebook Share this with Twitter Share this with Messenger Share...
- Julian Assange: Warrant for his arrest upheld by court
- 11H:37 GMT/UTC/ZULU TIME 14 February 2018 Share this with Facebook Share this with Twitter Share this with Messenger...
- Dagestan church shooting leaves five dead in Kizlyar
- February 18, 2018 20H:11 GMT/UTC/ZULU TIME Share this with Facebook Share this with Twitter Share this with Messenger S...
- Facebook steps up facial recognition use
- December 20, 2017 15H:35 GMT/UTC/ZULU TIME Share this with Facebook Share this with Twitter Share this with Messenger S...
- Brazilian inmates riot, take hostages in Rio de Janeiro prison
- February 19, 2018 00H:40 GMT/UTC/ZULU TIME by Enrique Krause and Biodun Iginla, BBC News and Reuters, SAO PAULO SAO PAULO - Inmates...
- Fun facts about this year's Oscar nominees
- 04 March 2018 - 08H16 GMT/UTC/ZULU TIME by Tamara Kachelmeier and Biodun Iginla, France24 Entertainment reporters, HOLLYWOOD (UNITED STAT...
- BREAKING: 'Plane crash' at Nepal's Kathmandu airport
- March 12, 2018 11H:37 GMT/UTC/ZULU TIME Share this with Facebook Share this with Twitter Share this with Messenger Shar...
FOLLOWERS
BLOG ARCHIVE
- ▼ 2019 (182)
- ▼ March (3)
- Hoodwinker sunfish: Rare fish washes up on Califor...
- Bombshell film reignites Michael Jackson abuse fir...
- Algeria protests: Thousands denounce president's b...
- ? February (90)
- ? January (89)
- ? 2018 (1455)
- ? 2017 (1396)
- ? 2016 (1402)
- ? 2015 (1710)
- ? 2014 (451)
- ? 2013 (215)
- ? 2012 (71)
- ? 2011 (233)
ABOUT ME
Biodun Iginla is a News Analyst for BBC News and a freelance writer and author who writes about politics and culture. He divides his time between Minneapolis, London, and Paris. He has also published 58 books, novels and nonfiction. Please see his books at amazon.com