Awesome Animal Fact - Record Ocean Sunfish

Did you know there is a brand new record for the world's largest bony fish? The new champion is an ocean sunfish.

Keep in mind that sharks and rays are cartilage fish, not bony fish. The whale shark is, by far, the largest fish living today, followed by the basking shark, the great white shark, the tiger shark, and the manta ray. But when it comes to bony fish, the ocean sunfish takes the prize. And as of December 9, 2021, a sunfish was found that beat the previous record (also held by a sunfish).

Unfortunately, the sunfish was found dead, probably from being struck by a passing ship. It had traces of ship paint in a wound on its back. But marine biologists towed the body to shore and used a crane scale to weigh it. The official weight? 6,049 pounds (2,744 kg). Almost a thousand pounds heavier than the previous sunfish record holder.

Astoundingly, when these giant fish are born, the young are only a quarter inch long, the size of a pencil eraser.

Photo Credits:
- Ocean sunfish - DepositPhotos