Classification
Kingdom - Animalia Phylum - Chordata Class - Actinopterygii Order - Tetraodontiformes Family - Molidae Genus - Mola Species - M. Mola
Morphology
The ocean sunfish has functional dorsoventral symmetry. The ocean sunfish looks a bit like a huge lima bean with its round and flat body. Its body, shaped like a millstone, appears to be part of the head, and so is often called the "headfish". It is also called the "moonfish" after its round appearance.
The ocean sunfish has an oval body that is flat and covered with thick, leathery, scaleless skin protected by a layer of mucous. It is grey, olive-brown, or nearly black with silvery reflections. Its fins are dark. It has a small mouth with a snout that projects beyond it. Its teeth on both top and bottom jaws are fused together to form a single, sharp-edged beak. It has large and high anal and dorsal fins. Its body ends in a low tail fin that is short and wavy. The ocean sunfish may grow to be 11 feet in length, and can weigh two ton. |
Adaptations For Survival
With their tank-like bodies, molas were clearly not built for life in the fast lane, but they hold their own against faster and flashier fishes and are able to live in almost all of the world's oceans. They are known to spend time near the ocean surface but tagging shows that molas are also prolific divers and migrate long distances at depth.
Distribution Map
Importance
Ecosystem RolesOcean sunfish are considered to have strategic top-down control of jellyfish populations. They may also have a direct influence on the incidence and occurrence of jellyfish blooms.
- Ecosystem Impact
- keystone species
- Positive Impacts
- food
- body parts are source of valuable material
Ocean Sunfish Facts
1. The mola are the heaviest of all the bony fish, with large specimens reaching 14 feet (4.2 meters) vertically and 10 feet (3.1 meters) horizontally and weighing nearly 5,000 pounds (2,268 kilograms). Sharks and rays can be heavier, but they're cartilaginous fish.
2. Ocean sunfish can become so infested with skin parasites, they will often invite small fish or even birds to feast on the pesky critters. They will even breach the surface up to 10 feet (3 meters) in the air and land with a splash in an attempt to shake the parasites.
3. Their population is considered stable, though they frequently get snagged in drift gill nets and can suffocate on sea trash, like plastic bags, which resemble jellyfish.
4. The ocean sunfish is the largest bony fish species.
5 .The preferred food of ocean sunfish are jellyfish.
2. Ocean sunfish can become so infested with skin parasites, they will often invite small fish or even birds to feast on the pesky critters. They will even breach the surface up to 10 feet (3 meters) in the air and land with a splash in an attempt to shake the parasites.
3. Their population is considered stable, though they frequently get snagged in drift gill nets and can suffocate on sea trash, like plastic bags, which resemble jellyfish.
4. The ocean sunfish is the largest bony fish species.
5 .The preferred food of ocean sunfish are jellyfish.
Vocabulary
1. Small Pectoral Fin: Helps to steer fish in movement.
2.Large Dorsal Fin: Helps maintain balance.
3.Caudal Fin: Used for speed and propulsion during movement.
4.Operculum: The hard bony covering that covers the gill slits.
5.Anal Fin: helps maintain the fish's balance
2.Large Dorsal Fin: Helps maintain balance.
3.Caudal Fin: Used for speed and propulsion during movement.
4.Operculum: The hard bony covering that covers the gill slits.
5.Anal Fin: helps maintain the fish's balance
Photos
http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/fish/mola/
http://marinelife.about.com/od/fish/tp/10-Facts-About-Ocean-Sunfish.htm
http://morefish.wikispaces.com/Ocean+Sunfish