One of the ocean’s most unusual fish species, capable of swimming vertically and self-severing its tail, has washed ashore on the coast of New Zealand.
3-meter “sea monster” washes up on the coast of New Zealand
The fish that washed up on the coast of New Zealand. (Photo: New Zealand Marine Studies Centre and Aquarium)
The paddlefish, nicknamed “sea monster”, measuring about three meters long, was discovered yesterday on the beach near Aramoana, approximately 27 kilometers from the city of Dunedin on New Zealand’s South Island.
David Agnew, a staff member of the Conservation Agency, stated that this is one of the strangest fish he has ever seen. It weighs around 30-50 kg and was still fresh.
According to Sky News, the fish may be preserved for research purposes. Experts from the University of Otago noted that paddlefish can grow up to 8 meters long, making them the longest bony fish species in the world. Some individuals can shorten their length by self-severing their tails.
