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Florida Fish and Wildife via Flickr
The eyeball that caused a sensation was cut from a swordfish's head, apparently by a fisherman, scientists say.
The giant eyeball from Florida that captured the world's attention came from a swordfish, scientists reported today. They said straight-line slashes on the softball-sized orb suggest that it was freshly cut out of the fish's head by a fisherman and tossed overboard. The fact that it washed ashore and was found by a beachcomber so quickly contributed to a rare string of circumstances that sparked last week's collective "ewws" and "ahhs."
"It's definitely been unusual to have a situation quite like this," Kevin Baxter, a spokesman for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, told me today. The commission has been fielding tons of inquiries ever since pictures of the eerie eyeball turned up on Thursday. If you haven't seen them yet, be sure to check out the commission's Facebook page and Flickr gallery.
Observers had speculated that the eye might have come from a large fish, or a giant squid, or even a whale — but in retrospect, the scenario involving a swordfish caught at sea seems to make the most sense. Genetic testing is being conducted to confirm the hypothesis.
Here's the explanation from the commission's news release:
"After examining an eye found on a south Florida beach this week, researchers from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission believe the specimen came from a swordfish. Genetic testing will be done to confirm the identification.
"'Experts on site and remotely have viewed and analyzed the eye, and based on its color, size and structure, along with the presence of bone around it, we believe the eye came from a swordfish,' said Joan Herrera, curator of collections at the FWC’s Fish and Wildlife Research Institute in St. Petersburg. 'Based on straight-line cuts visible around the eye, we believe it was removed by a fisherman and discarded.'
"The approximately softball-size eye was recovered by a citizen in Pompano Beach on Wednesday. FWC staff received the eye later that day. Swordfish are commonly fished in the Florida Straits offshore of south Florida at this time of year.
"A highly migratory fish, swordfish can be found from the surface to as deep as 2,000 feet. Swordfish in the Atlantic can reach a maximum size of over 1,100 pounds, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Swordfish feed on a wide variety of fish and invertebrates."
More sea marvels:
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- Hawaiian squid carries a built-in light
- Boy finds a bonanza in whale vomit
- Gallery: 10 deep-sea secrets revealed
Alan Boyle is NBCNews.com's science editor. Connect with the Cosmic Log community by "liking" the log's Facebook page, following @b0yle on Twitter and adding the Cosmic Log page to your Google+ presence. To keep up with Cosmic Log as well as NBCNews.com's other stories about science and space, sign up for the Tech & Science newsletter, delivered to your email in-box every weekday. You can also check out "The Case for Pluto," my book about the controversial dwarf planet and the search for new worlds.
Leave a Comment:
Eye sea.
This is all a cover story. The truth is that it is part of a top secret Google project titled the "EYE SEA YOU" program, where they have dropped hundreds of these eyeball cameras in the ocean to eventually record the entire earth's seas from a fish's viewpoint. Pretty soon you will be able to scan anywhere in the ocean using these robotic eyes.
No, it is what remains of Gollum.
If the eyeball is that big, I can only imagine how huge the fish must have been!
THATS THE EYE THAT MY HUSBAND LOST . . HES ALWAYS OGLING YOUNG WOMEN!!!
Ahoy, Mateys, Anyone see my eye? Lost it out at sea after walking the plank...Aaaarrrrgggghhhh!
I'm the master, and you're the pupil.
When I was first told of this story, I said they should be checking DC for any missing Congressmen. Then my buddy corrected me and said very clearly the second time, Giant "Eye" ball not Giant "A" hole, that I first thought I heard.
BP, it could be from my girlfriend, Iris too.
This is a LIE! the Gov't doesnt want you to know the truth! This eye belongs to a newly discovered species of very large humans who live on the sea floor! STAY OUT OF THE WATER!!!!!!!
It would have been nice if an expert would have said that "given the size of the eye, the size of the fish would have been" but no ... we are still left with a lot of doubt!!!!!!!
It's Apple's new iSore. Don't believe me? Ask the swordfish!
Dam*. I thought they had finally killed that b*stard Sponge Bob.
Spellchecker keep this under your hat.........they did kill of "Sponge Bob" the one your seeing now is CG.
Ut-tut-tut, ...look eye, - always look eye. (Mr. Miyagi)
WHAT!!!!!??? IT WAS NOT HUMAN??????? geesh.
Well, that swordfish had it's 15 minutes of fame!
If you put a body to the eye, why aren't they writing about newly-discovered gigantic swordfish? Or, how about a record-breaking catch? I smell something fishy here.
Pure protein.
In another article, I read that they actually solved the mystery when they spotted a swordfish with an eye patch.
A swordfish with a missing eye? That has to be better than a one eyed trouser trout. Or was that a wrinkled neck bass?
If the eye is that big, how big must the rest of the fish be? I strongly recomend further genetic testing--since the article says the largest swordfish are about 1000 pounds, this one must have been at the top of that weight limit, and maybe even more than that. Maybe it could even be a new species of 'giant' swordfish we haven't discovered yet--like the poodle moth and the phallushead fish.
That would have been a bragging rights catch even if you're a commercial fisherman, and yet we haven't heard anything from anyone about a fish that size caught recently. Is it possible that the fish wasn't killed by man, but something else? And if so--what?
Hey DocHoliday...I'll keep an eye out for it
why do genetic testing? it sounds like they have a good identification. seems like a waste of money...
C'mon money is in endless supply, its the government.
It will just be marked under "Green Energy".
If you were to pay about $100 in taxes a year per person, only about $2 of that goes to scienctific related funding. Personally I think this is a little backward, but I don't complain about giving $2 to every $100 the government spends in my tax money on scientific research. I'd actually give more if I was asked too.
They are doing a job that's part of their job description, so it isn't a waste of money.
Save the genetics test for a real use... like testing rape kits.
I wonder what the turn around time on those are... compared to this case?????
gtouch Comment collapsed by the community
It will just be marked under "Green Energy".
Come on Newvine you collapsed a "Green Energy" joke.................Priceless.
Government is asking for more. Feel free to donate to the US Treasury at any time.
Why was Gtouch collapsed? Excellent reponse following comment 2.1. Tyler, we need a ruling.
The fisherman is going to call them up: "you idiots. I have the other one too, and lungs and a spleen and liver if you want it"
Sheesh. Genetic testing? Really?
gtouch said, "Comment collapsed by the community ..... Come on Newvine you collapsed a "Green Energy" joke."
I didn't. I thought it was kinda funny. I've never understood how that works anyway. I only see "^" & "!" on my post interface. I KNOW that "^" makes a "like" & that "!" makes an evidently invisible "flag". I PRESUME that too many "!'s" lead to a "collapse", but I've seen those which show 100+ "^'s" when you open them up to read. However, I've seen obvious highly disliked posts, with only 1 "^" but many "I Don't Like You" replies, which AREN'T collapsed. You'd think most people who post "I Don't Like You" would ALSO tap the "!" button, leading to an eventual "collapse". And seems like 100+ "^" taps would undo almost any "collapse".
But maybe I'm wrong. Maybe "^" & "!" have absolutely zilch to do with a "collapse". Maybe there's a specific "collapse" button which I won't have access to until I "grow up" to be a big boy or something like that.
Don't ask me to "rewrite" all of that ^^^^^ cr@p. I'm not sure I could do all of "that" ^^^^^ two times in one day.
Tax trolling is tiresome to read over and over again and that's what all the whiners who complain about their taxes being spent on are doing: trolling. That's the reason the post was collapsed.
I'm just guessing, though. For the most part I don't come here, it's a that fluke I'm here today.
Let me guess. It's from Shelley Winters.
I thought it was one of Marty Feldman's.
Maybe Sandy Duncans glass eye
I was thinking Jimmy Hoffa.
Or Sammy Davis........and he mixes it with love so that it all tastes good......it all tastes good.
Eeeewwwwwww.........
Pretty sure it's Marlin Brando's
That is one big eye!! Wow.
I am pleased that government money has been used to verify the identity of discarded fish waste. Now we need to track down the fisherman that tossed the eye overboard, so we can give him a good talking to.
If you were to pay about $100 in taxes a year per person, only about $2 of that goes to scienctific related funding. Personally I think this is a little backward, but I don't complain about giving $2 to every $100 the government spends in my tax money on scientific research. I'd actually give more if I was asked too.
Both Chris McK and Funny--I had to give both of you a 'like'. Chris, that was funny! I see sea the humor. Funny--I agree with you! Scientific research is really important! More so than many realize. And yes, though this case is a little backward, I have to admit I am really curious to see if their well-founded theory is verified:) And I have donated to scientific research before. For instance, Monterey Bay Aquarium. There are lots of different ways to donate to scientific research. Pick a favorite or two, go ahead - it'l be fun!
If it could be preserved in acrylic it would make one very cool paperweight, or door stop...don't you think???
I do believe you've just come up with a profitable side-business for sword-fishermen.
I'd buyone for my desk-great conversation piece. i t would be even better if you could attach a motion detector to it to follow you whenever you moved!
Hopefully everyone won't want to purchase one Fla-Native.
Good point, Michigan Mark! But a REALLY COOL, LIFELIKE facsimile could be made with a motion detector inside to help fund scientific research, then there would be plenty for everyone.....and there would not be the horrible pressure on the species that such a demand would create. On the serious side, my husband and I LOVE to fish, but such an awesome creature we would release, and we have actually both caught a striped marlin in the Sea of Cortez. Mine was approx. 80 lbs, and Greggs was approx. 100 lbs. We tagged and released! But we kept and ate the tuna, dorado, and rock fish we caught. Just to let you all know--there is only a fraction of the bill fish left in the ocean that there were when Gregg and I were kids (we were born in the 50's). Many of them have started to make a comeback, but the pressure on them will always be there. We prefer to tag and release certain species--besides, they have MORE mercury in them than tuna.
The great eye is watching...
Thank God! The mystery of where Cyclops lost his other eye has been solved! Oh what a glorious day! Finally, an end to the speculation, rumors and wags. Now we can move on.
You cared enough to show up and comment. thanks!
Eye'm so glad the mystery has been solved so eye can sleep better at night.
Well nobody commenting on news articles can stand a simple scientific explanation based on concrete evidence.
This eye has to be part of a government conspiracy to breed monsters to control the human population and establish a one world government. Using technology they got from aliens at Roswell, they have genetically engineered all-seeing eye monsters to spy on us and control our behavior. Working in concert with the Illuminati, the Bilderbergs and the Reptilian aliens these creatures can count how much money we are carrying by seeing the metal strips that are now inserted in our money. Giant brain monsters will then control our minds unless we wear protective tinfoil hats.
This swordfish story is obviously a cover-up that will be revealed in multiple youtube videos.
Nah nah nah--I still say it is the eye of the Cyclops Prometheus.....
Eye think I'm going to become a vegetarian.....
Well...during the first Presidential debate, it DID look like Mitt knocked out at least ONE of Obama's eyes...
That was a Romney imposter, he didn't take responsibility for anything that Romney's been running on. Better keep an eye on him.
gofins, You mean that Rommney is not the same man that the Obama ads lied about.
eye eye - over and out!
Damn! I thought for sure it was The Crawling Eye.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BDGwCMcLs_M
That eyeball belongs to "five deferment" Dick Cheney---and, he's still watching us! If he catches you trying to exercise any of your constitionally guaranteed rights, he'll pounce. The 100,000+ he murdered in Iraq just whetted his appetite.
In some countries that eye would be worth a lot of money as a delicacy. Maybe worth more than the actual fish itself.
Stupid, clueless fishermen.
Hogwash. That eyeball clearly came from a giant cyclops.
Nah, somebody released a Kraken!
Nah nah...yer cyclops wears bifocal. (singular) he he......
Isn't 'giant cyclops' redundant? ;-)
A wandering eye exposed to the public. It's a little something to talk about. A poor big fish.
Of course, any number of fishermen could have told them what they have, but the scientists need to bilk the system for more government money to 'tun tests and do more research' -- in other words, JUSTIFY THEIR JOBS!
Yeah! Nanny-Nanny Poo Poo I told you it was a sword fish! Of course the one I caught was the size of my hand! I snagged the poor thing with my lure. And if it was that big :( too bad they killed it.
Seeing as how so many people were intrigued by this story, and so many people wanted to know where it came from and from what, and seeing as the government's first duty is to serve the interests of the people, I'd say any government money spent on this is money well and properly spent.
I can't wait for the movie lol
SyFy probably is already at work on it. Their movies only cost about $10 to produce (you can tell from the washed up actors to the "special" effects).
Why would the fisherman have to cut the swordfish eyes out? Is there a reason, or just for kicks? Eye want know.
411, good question. Most recreational anglers would bring a fish that size home intact for weight/bragging rights. Could have been a commercial boat, it is common to stab or puncture the eyes so the carcass will sink. Keeps the smell down (pun)!
I'm no expert, but I have watched most of the "Swordfish - Life on the Line" shows on TV. They commonly gut the fish, as well as cut off the entire head. I think if they are left on, the fish buyers make deductions for the non-usable parts. If the fishermen get rid of the deductions, they receive 100% pay for what they deliver. It helps them feel like they are being paid honestly.
It also makes more room in the hold for more lbs. of fish...