Scientific Name
Masturus lanceolatus

Common Name
Sharptail mola

Biology
Dorsal soft rays (total): 15-19; Anal soft rays: 15 - 19. Dorsal and anal fins similar in shape, positioned far back on body (Ref 53035).

Classification

Classified By

Li?nard, 1840

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Puffers and Filefishes (Tetraodontiformes)

Family

Molas or Ocean Sunfishes (Molidae)

Distribution

Region

Circumglobal

Distribution

Circumglobal: In tropical to subtropical waters. Western Atlantic: North Carolina, USA (Ref. 7251) to southeastern Brazil (Ref. 36453).

Range

37°N - 35°S

Environment

Climate

Deep-water

Water Temperature From

Unknown °C

Water Temperature To

Unknown °C

Depth From - meters

Unknown m

Depth To - meters

670 m

Zone

bathyalpelagic

Environment

Marine; brackish; bathypelagic; depth range ? - 670 m (Ref. 36453)

Trophic Level

4.16 s.e. 0.29 Based on size and trophs of closest relatives

Occurs in Marine / Salt water

True

Occurs in Brackish water

True

Occurs in Fresh Water

False

Occurs on Reefs

False

Is kept in Aquariums

False

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length

337 cm

Common Length

Unknown cm

Phylogenetic Diversity Index

PD50 = 1.0625 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses

Unknown

Vulnerability

Very high vulnerability (86 of 100)

Resilience

Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (Preliminary K or Fecundity.)

Threat To Humans

Harmless

IUCN Red List Status

Not Evaluated