Giant Eyeball Mystery Solved

By Alan Boyle, NBC News

Credit: Carli Segelson / Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

Giant eyeball found by a beachcomber Wednesday on Pompano Beach, Fla.

October 15, 2012 Updated Oct 15, 2012 at 8:26 AM PDT

The giant eyeball from Florida that captured the world's attention came from a swordfish, scientists reported Monday.

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," said Kevin Baxter, a spokesman for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

The commission has been fielding tons of inquiries ever since pictures of the eerie eyeball turned up on Thursday.

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.

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