Rangers from the marine unit of the Israel Nature and Parks Authority were surprised and delighted on Saturday to document a sunfish, one of the largest fish in the world, making its way along a new marine nature preserve near Ashdod.
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The sunfish is has no caudal fin, and its pectoral fins are small and shaped like fans. Its dorsal and anal fins are lengthened, making the fish nearly as tall as it is long. Mature sunfish have an average length of 1.8 meters (nearly six feet), but specimens as tall as 3.3 meters (over 10 feet) have been spotted. Mature sunfish can weigh from 247 to 1,000 kg (545 to 2,200 pounds).
Video: Guy Levian/Israel Nature and Parks Authority
Guy Levin, director of the INPA's central marine district, said, "Suddenly, I noticed something strange bobbing out of the war, and when I got closer I was surprised to see a huge sunfish for the first time in my life! I'm happy I was able to film it."
According to Levian, the fish immediately became camera shy, diving to the bottom. "I thought I wouldn't see it again, but a few minutes later, it was sticking its fin out of the water again. We got closer and managed to see it up close until it starting swimming away. It was about three meters high and two meters long."
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