Ocean sunfish
📖 Overview
Molas are distinguished for their distinct morphological characters which include reduced/fused caudal elements, presence of a clavus in place of the caudal fin, absence of a swim bladder and a degenerate, cartilaginous skeleton . Adults are found on slopes adjacent to deep water where they come in for shelter and for seeking cleaner fishes. They are usually shy. However, they may become familiar with divers in some locations . Individuals often drift at the surface while lying on its side but can swim actively and are capable of directional movements otherwise . They swim upright and close to the surface. The dorsal fin often protrudes above the water. Females are larger than males . This species has been filmed in 480 m depth with the help of a camera equipped with baits (Lis Maclaren, pers. comm. 2005). Adults eat fishes, mollusks, zooplankton, jellyfish, crustaceans and brittle stars . A live colony of the cirripede Lepas anatifera were found attached to the anterior portion of the sunfish's esophagus that was stranded in the south coast of Terceira Island, Azores Archipelago in 2004. This association has apparent advantages for the goose barnacles such as a regular intake of food and protection both from hydrodynamic hazards and from predators: but for the sunfish, it is not clear whether it is neutral, of advantage or causes feeding problems since the attachment may obstruct the sunfish's esophagus . The sunfish is registered as the heaviest bony fish and as the one with the most eggs in the Guinness Book of World Records . Generally this species is not used as food fish; some people consider it as a delicacy . The fish can be utilized fresh and can be broiled . Some parts of the fish are used in Chinese medicine . Molas may contain the same toxin as puffers and porcupine fish . They do not adapt well in captivity . Juveniles are victims of California sea lions in Monterey Bay .
🔬 Taxonomy
🐟 Physical Description
Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 15 - 18; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 14 - 17. The scaleless body is covered with extremely thick, elastic skin. The caudal fin is replaced by a rudder-like structure called 'clavus'. Dorsal and anal fins very high with short base; in swimming, these fins are flapped synchronously from side to side and can propel the fish at surprisingly good speed. Pectorals small and rounded, directed upward . Mouth very small; teeth fused to form a parrot-like beak. Gills 4, a slit behind the last; gill openings reduced to a small hole at the base of the pectoral fins. Gas bladder absent in adults. : short and / or deep; Cross section: oval.
🌀 Behaviour
Behavioural data for Ocean sunfish is currently being reviewed.
🦐 Diet
The diet of the ocean sunfish was formerly thought to consist primarily of various jellyfish and other gelatinous zooplankton, such as ctenophores, salps, and medusae. However, genetic analysis reveals that sunfish are actually generalist predators that consume mostly small fish (such as flounder), fish (eel) larvae, squid, other molluscs, crustaceans, and other soft-bodied invertebrates, with jellyfish and salps making up only around 15% of the diet. Occasionally, they will ingest eel grass. This range of food items indicates that the sunfish feeds at many levels, from the surface to deep water, and occasionally down to the seafloor in some areas.
🥚 Reproduction
Produces very numerous and small eggs; 300 million eggs found in a 1.5 m long female . Oocytes in the ovaries develop in different stages suggesting Mola mola as a multiple spawner . This is the largest clutch estimate for this species .
🌍 Habitat & Distribution
Marine; pelagic-oceanic; oceanodromous ; depth range 30 - 1515 m , usually 30 - 70 m . Subtropical; 12°C - 25°C ; 75°N - 65°S, 180°W - 180°E
🌿 Ecology
📐 Morphometrics
🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance
🛡️ Conservation Assessment
📊 Population Risk & Fisheries
🌐 Names & Taxonomy
| Language | Common Names |
|---|---|
| 🇬🇧English | Common Mola · Common sunfish · Giant Sunfish · Headfish · Mola Ocean Sunfish · Moonfish · Ocean Sunfish · Ocean sunfish, Sunfish · Oceanic Sunfish · Sun-fish · Sunfish · Trunk-fish |
| 🌍AFR | Opesee-sonvis · Sonvis |
| 🇸🇦Arabic | Hout kmar · Niffâkha · Poisson soleil · Qamar · Samaket el-shams · سمكة الشمس الشائعة · سمكة شمس المحيط · مولا شائعة |
| 🌍BRE | loar · mouldouz |
| 🏳️Catalan | Bot · Peix lluna comú |
| 🌍CES | měsíčník svítivý |
| 🌍COS | Mula · Pesciu tondu |
| 🌍CYM | Pysgod Haul · pysgodyn haul |
| 🇩🇰Danish | Almindelig klumpfisk · Klumpfisk |
| 🇩🇪German | Mondfisch |
| 🌍ELL | Fegaropsaro · Προπέλα · Φεγγαρόψαρο |
| 🌍EST | Harilik kuukala |
| 🌍FAO | Mánafiskur |
| 🌍FAS | Korshid-mahi-e-oghyanoosi · خورشید ماهی اقیانوسی |
| 🇫🇮Finnish | Möhkäkala |
| 🇫🇷French | Môle Commun · Poisson Lune · Poisson-lune · mole |
| 🌍GLE | Iasc Gréine |
| 🌍GLG | Peixe lúa |
| 🌍HEB | Dag hashemesh · דג שמש מגובשש · דג שמש ענק |
| 🇭🇷Croatian | Bacva · Bucan · Bucanj · Mih · Misec · Pešeluna · Veliki bucanj · Veliki pešibarila |
| 🇭🇺Hungarian | Holdhal |
| 🌍IDO | Molio |
| 🌍IND | Ikan Raksasa · Mola-mola |
| 🌍ISL | Tunglfiskur |
| 🇮🇹Italian | Pesce luna · Pesce mola |
| 🇯🇵Japanese | Mambo · Manbô · マンボウ |
| 🇰🇷Korean | 개복치 |
| 🌍LIT | Paprastoji mėnulžuvė |
| 🌍MLG | Takabatra |
| 🌍MLT | Mola · Pixxi mola · Pixxiluna · Pixxitambur · Qamar |
| 🌍MRI | Raataahuihui |
| 🌍MSA | Matahari |
| 🇳🇱Dutch | Klompvis · Maanvis · Maanvisch |
| 🌍NNO | månefisk · klumpfisk |
| 🌍NOB | månefisk · klumpfisk |
| 🇳🇴Norwegian | Månefisk |
| 🇵🇱Polish | Samoglów · samogłów |
| 🇵🇹Portuguese | Bezedor · Lua · Orelhão · Peixe Lua · Peixe-lua · Peixe-roda · Rolim · Sol |
| 🌍RON | Mambo · Peste luna |
| 🇷🇺Russian | Обыкновенная луна-рыба · Рыба-луна · луна-рыба · рыба-голова · рыба-солнце |
| 🌍SLV | Morski mesec |
| 🇪🇸Spanish | Mola · Peixe lua · Pez Cabeza · Pez Luna Oceánico · Pez Sol · Pez luna |
| 🌍SQI | hana · peshkahana · peshku hënë |
| 🌍SRP | Bucanj |
| 🇸🇪Swedish | Klumpfisk · Solfisk |
| 🌍THA | ปลาหนังช้าง |
| 🌍TUR | Ay baligi · Ay balığı · Pervane · ayi baligi · pervane baligi |
| 🌍VIE | Cá Mặt trăng |
| 🇨🇳Chinese | 曼波 · 海蟲 · 翻車魚 · 翻車魨 · 蜇魚 · 蜇魴 |
🗺️ Global Occurrence Map
Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) — 38 records indexed .
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