ocean sunfish
| Scientific name | Mola mola |
|---|---|
| Descriptor | Linnaeus |
| Year of description | 1758 |
| IUCN category (World) | VU |
| Family | Molidae |
| Genus | Mola |
Introduction
Mola mola, commonly known as ocean sunfish, is a salt water fish.
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Who is it?
Genus Mola
The genus Mola comprises three species: Mola mola, Mola testa, and Mola alexandrini.
All of them have a rounded shape with a highly developed dorsal and anal fin used for locomotion. The caudal fin is reduced to a simple band connecting the dorsal and anal fins.
Mola means "millstone" in Greek.
Morphology
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Average size200 cm
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Maximum size330 cm
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ShapeOval
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Average size200 cm
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Maximum size330 cm
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ShapeOval
How to recognize This fish ?
The ocean sunfish measures between 200 and 330 cm. This fish is unicolore with a predominantly argent and gris body.
Behaviour & Life cycle
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dietomnivorous with carnivorous tendency and planctophage
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Sociabilitysolitary
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territorialNo
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Way of livingdiurnal
The ocean sunfish is a fish solitary naturally found mid-depth and near surface. This species is omnivorous with carnivorous tendency and planctophage .
n general, this species does not care much about other animals crossing its path.
Reproduction
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Reproductionovipare qui pond en eau libre
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Migratory speciesYes
The ocean sunfish is a fish ovipare qui pond en eau libre.
Harmless species
This species does not represent any particular threats to humans when encountered in its natural environment.
Origin and distribution
Conservation status of populations (IUCN)
What is its habitat?
Natural environment characteristics
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Depth0 - 480 m
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EnvironmentActive pelagic
Biotope presentation
The ocean sunfish is most often found at a depth between 0m and 480m. However, it is not impossible to find this species at other depths.
To go further
To read on the web
Sources & Contributions
Participation & Validation
The Fishipedia team and specialist contributors are committed to providing high-quality content. However, although the information comes from scientific sources or testimonials from specialists, the cards may contain inaccuracies.
Adrien Falzon
Benoit Chartrer
Translation
Translation done with the valuable contribution of our translators, who make this information available to a wider audience. We sincerely thank them for their commitment.
Scientific partners
Tags
#Molidae
#Mola
#plein eau
#Cap de Magellan pacifique
#Bay of Bengal
#Gulf of Mexico
#Great Barrier Reef
#Sea of Okhotsk
#mer d'Oman
#Tasman Sea
#Philippine Sea
#Sea of Japan
#Labrador Sea
#Mediterranean Sea
#Black Sea
#Red Sea
#South East Asian Seas
#Mers d'Europe du Nord
#Indonesian seas
#Atlantic Ocean: North Coast of Brazil
#Océan Atlantique Est Afrique - Angulhas
#Océan Atlantique Est Afrique - Bengala
#Océan Atlantique Est Afrique - Golfe de guinée
#Temperate Eastern Atlantic Ocean
#Océan Atlantique Est Afrique - Transition & Cap Vert
#Eastern Cold Atlantic Ocean
#Gough Island
#Saint Helena
#Cold temperate Northwest Atlantic Ocean
#Northwest warm temperate Atlantic Ocean
#Southwest warm temperate Atlantic Ocean
#Southwest Tropical Atlantic Ocean
#western Indian Ocean
#Desventuradas Islands
#Galapagos
#Océan Pacifique Nord Est Tempere Chaud
#Océan Pacifique nord-est tempéré froid
#Océan Pacifique sud-est tempéré chaud
#Tropical Eastern Pacific
#Western Tropical Pacific Ocean
#Oceania
#Canary Islands
#Sardinia
#Sicily