SAN DIEGO (KNX) — A rare fish washed ashore at a San Diego County beach.
The Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego said in a press release that on Dec. 10, scientists were told about a dead Pacific footballfish discovered at Swami’s Beach in Encinitas.
Scripps called this discovery “extremely rare”, adding that only 31 known specimens of the specifies have been collected.
Scripps said the fish is three inches long and weighs five pounds and is one of the largest species of angler fish.
In November, the same kind of fish was found at Blacks Beach. Scripps said it is unclear why these deep-sea fish keep washing ashore.
“Experts don’t have any evidence to theorize why these fish are washing ashore in Southern California, but are interested in learning more about the specimens that have been collected or any new ones that might wash up,” Scripps spokeswoman Brittany Hook said.
Ben Frable, Collection Manager of Marine Vertebrates at Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego, X-rayed the fish and collected tissue samples for genetic analysis.
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