A recent social media phenomenon involving an exotic animal specialist from Miami, Florida, has been debunked as a hoax.
Mike Holston, also known as “The Real Tarzan,” claimed that he had captured an “Algerian gorilla fish” with an ape-like face that “feasts on whales.” However, experts have confirmed that there is no such creature.
The picture that Holston shared on social media showed a man holding up a large fish with an unusual appearance.
Holston claimed that this was an adult male Algerian gorilla fish, which typically grow to about 3-4 feet in length. He also claimed that the fish had been eating baby whales and had fully maxed out in size.
Holston went on to share more supposed facts about the creature, such as the fact that it lays 34 eggs on land and turns bright red during mating season.
He even claimed that the fish can live up to 13 years old, but if circumcised, can live up to 48 years.
Despite the ridiculousness of Holston’s claims, many people rushed to share their own supposed facts about the Algerian gorilla fish. The hoax spiraled out of control and was widely shared on social media.
However, experts have since confirmed that there is no such thing as an Algerian gorilla fish. The creature is a complete fabrication, likely created as a publicity stunt or a joke.
It’s not uncommon for social media users to fall for hoaxes and myths, especially when they involve unusual or exotic creatures.
However, it’s important to fact-check claims before sharing them with others. In this case, a little bit of research would have quickly revealed that the Algerian gorilla fish was nothing more than a social media myth.
The fisherman, whose name has not been released, reportedly hooked the massive fish while fishing off the coast of Barbados. According to eyewitnesses, the fish put up a ferocious fight, taking over an hour to reel in. When the fish was finally brought aboard the boat, everyone was stunned by its appearance. The fish had a broad, flat face that resembled that of an ape, hence the nickname.
Images of the fish quickly went viral on social media, with many people expressing amazement and disbelief at the fish’s size and appearance. Some experts have identified the fish as a Goliath Grouper, a species of fish that is known to grow to enormous sizes and is found in the waters of the Caribbean.
The catch has generated a great deal of interest among anglers and fish enthusiasts, who are eager to learn more about this rare and mysterious fish. Some experts have speculated that the fish may be a new species, while others believe that it may simply be an unusually large and deformed individual of a known species.
Regardless of its identity, the ape-faced fish is a testament to the incredible diversity of marine life in the Caribbean, and a reminder of the wonders that lie beneath the surface of the sea. The fisherman who caught it will no doubt go down in angling history as one of the lucky few to have encountered such a remarkable creature.