A giant sunfish has caused a stir along the shores of South Australia after being washed up on Petrel Cove near Victor Harbor.
Experts from the South Australian Museum have confirmed that the creature is likely a bump-head sunfish, scientifically known as “Mola alexandrini”.
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It has drawn attention from locals and passers-by due to its impressive size and unusual appearance.
However, this is not the first time such a phenomenon has occurred in the region.
In 2019, another sunfish, believed to be of the Mola mola species, was found near the mouth of the River Murray.
According to Ralph Foster, fish collection manager at the SA Museum, sunfish are known to bask in the sun’s rays at the ocean’s surface before diving hundreds of metres below to feed on jellyfish.
“You can tell it’s a bump-head sunfish rather than one of the other two types (Mola tecta, the Hoodwinker sunfish and Mola mola, the Ocean sunfish) because of the prominent chin you can see in the photo,” a spokesperson for the museum said.
Experts said this species is the most commonly encountered sunfish along South Australia’s coast.
Measuring between two and three metres in length and height, the sunfish carcass is partially embedded in the sand.
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