ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – Has the mystery surrounding a giant eyeball found in Pompano Beach been solved?
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission announced Monday that they believe the specimen came from a swordfish. Genetic testing will be done to confirm the identification.
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The softball-sized eyeball was found by Gino Covacci on Wednesday and became a national sensation as people became fascinated by the exotic discovery.
The eye was immediately delivered to the FWC and sent to a lab in St. Petersburg, Fla.
"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."
Fishermen commonly seek swordfish off South Florida during this time of year.