Ocean Sunfish (Mola Mola)

Also known as Common Mola, Giant Sunfish, Headfish, Mola Ocean Sunfish, Moonfish, Sunfish

Description

Also known as Common Mola, Giant Sunfish, Headfish, Mola Ocean Sunfish, Moonfish, Sunfish.

Found singly or in pairs, over slopes close to very deep water, usually in the open, coming close to shore for cleaning stations. Can be found drifting on their sides or actively swimming.
A shy fish but can be attracted to divers.
They feed on brittle stars, crustaceans, fish, jellyfish, molluscs and zooplankton.
Juveniles resemble spiky pufferfish.
Length - 300cm
Depth - 0-500m
Circumtropical

This is the heaviest bony fish sometimes weighing upwards of 1000kg!
It also looks like half a fish because it's back fin never really grows!
Often seen near the surface busking in the sun "hence its name"
Sort after by the Japanese and expensive to buy! Ref: https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Mola-mola

1 comment

  1. Posted by Glynn Andersen
    June 28, 2014 at 18:52 pm - 1 person found this useful.

    Found at Binningup Beach Western Australia. Washed ashore appeared to have been scraped by a rock or boat. Recently dead as was still bleeding. Never seen on this beach by us before.

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