Update: Mystery Fish Found on La Jolla Shores

Updated 12:28 p.m., March 12, 2012: Head Aquarist and Curator Fernando Nosratpour confirmed this fish was a ocean sunfish.

This mystery fish was found sunning itself on La Jolla Shores on Sunday afternoon. Unfortunately, it was no longer alive.

A few spectators gathered round to make speculations on the species of this flat fish that appears to be mostly head and no tail. The part on top of the sand was roughly two feet long.

A total of three of these fish were found north of Calle del Oro and south of Scripps Pier.

Two passersby believed the fish to be a sunfish, also known as a mola mola.

Oceansunfish.org states that the average size of an adult sunfish is 2,200 pounds and more than 6 feet long.

Oceanlight.com had several photos of sunfish photographed in San Diego County. It stated that the sunfish is the largest bony fish and known to live in oceans with tropical or temperate temperatures.

Let us know what you think. What species are these fish and have you seen anything like them before?

Like this article? Like us on Facebook, too. Or follow us on Twitter.

And be sure to stay in the local loop by subscribing to our newsletter — every morning we’ll deliver La Jolla news, announcements, blogs and calendar events right to your inbox.