Ocean sunfish (Mola mola) fish species and information / pictures of Ocean sunfish - Mola mola

Ocean sunfish (Mola mola) fish species information

Scientific Name
Mola mola

Common Name
Ocean sunfish

Biology
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 (Ref. 6885). 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.

Classification

Classified By

Linnaeus, 1758

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Puffers and Filefishes (Tetraodontiformes)

Family

Molas or Ocean Sunfishes (Molidae)

Distribution

Region

Warm and temperate zones of all oceans. Eastern Pacific

Distribution

Warm and temperate zones of all oceans. Eastern Pacific: British Columbia, Canada (Ref. 2850) to Peru and Chile (Ref. 5530). Western Pacific: Japan to Australia (Ref. 86345). Eastern Atlantic: Scandinavia to South Africa (occasionally western Baltic, Mediterranean). Western Atlantic: Newfoundland, Canada (Ref. 7251) to Argentina (Ref. 36453).

Range

65°N - 65°S, 180°W - 180°E

Environment

Climate

Subtropical

Water Temperature From

12 °C

Water Temperature To

25 °C

Depth From - meters

30 m

Depth To - meters

480 m

Zone

pelagic-oceanic

Environment

Marine; pelagic-oceanic; oceanodromous (Ref. 51243); depth range 30 - 480 m

Trophic Level

4 s.e. 0.28 Based on diet studies.

Occurs in Marine / Salt water

True

Occurs in Brackish water

False

Occurs in Fresh Water

False

Occurs on Reefs

False

Is kept in Aquariums

False

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length

333 cm

Common Length

Unknown cm

Phylogenetic Diversity Index

PD50 = 0.8125 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses

Fisheries: minor commercial

Vulnerability

Very high vulnerability (82 of 100)

Resilience

Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (tmax = 8 (in captivity); Fec=300 million)

Threat To Humans

Poisonous to eat (Ref. 13513)

IUCN Red List Status

Not Evaluated