1 of 1

Write now Article Tools

The ocean sunfish is the heaviest bony fish in the world. It's average weight is1000 kilograms with resembles a fish head without a tail,long anal fins are extended and its main body is flattened laterally . The species is native to tropical and temperate waters around the globe. The ocean sunfish is the type species of the genus. Sunfish live on a diet that consists mainly of jellyfish Females of the species can produce more eggs than any other known vertebrate.

Presently, three distinct species are recognized within the family Molidae including: the common mola, Mola mola Linnaeus 1758, the sharp-tailed mola, Masturus lanceolatus Lienard 1840, and the slender mola, Ranzania laevis Pennant 1776. (Our on-going genetic work may increase that number, so stay tuned!)
Throughout the world, a number of other intriguing common names exist for ocean sunfishes including:
Poisson lune (France) (meaning "moon fish")
Schwimmender kopf (German) (meaning "swimming head")
Putol (Philippines) (Bisaya dialect for "cut short")
Manbo (Japan)
Toppled car fish (Taiwan)
Bezador (Spain)
Makua (Hawaii)

EARLY LIFE HISTORY:
Molas produce an impressive number of eggs. A 1.4m (4.5 ft) female was estimated to be carrying 300 million eggs in her single ovary. (Larger Mola mola would most likely carry even more.) 300 million is several orders of magnitude greater than most other fishes and to date remains the largest number of eggs ever recorded in a single vertebrate as any one time (Carwardine, 1995). Needless to say, the eggs are tiny and would fit into the size of this "o".
After hatching, the larvae expose their affinity to their spiky puffer fish relatives by looking more like swimming pincushions than wee molas. As they grow the spines disappear, as do their tails.
Mola mola (Roundtailed or Common mola)
The most common of the ocean sunfishes is the Mola mola. These fish, like all sunfishes, appear as if their bodies have been somehow truncated leaving them little more than a large head equipped with long sweeping fins atop and below. The body is less than twice as long as it is deep.
Mola mola have a rounded tail, gritty sandpapery skin covered with copious amounts of mucus. Typically silvery in color with a slight opalescent sheen, they can exhibit strikingly changeable spotty patterns. They presently hold the record for world's heaviest bony fish-a 3.1 meter (10 ft) long specimen weighed in at 2235 kg (4927 lbs) (Carwardine, 1995).
Masturus

• 1
• 2
• 3
• next page >>

Add your voice

Know something about A guide to ocean sunfish?
We want to hear your view. Write now!