Fish
Ocean Sunfish
Mola molaAlso known as Common Mola
The Ocean Sunfish has a huge laterally flattened body, tall dorsal and anal fins, and a short rounded rear edge instead of a typical tail. It sometimes rests near the surface or visits cleaning stations where smaller animals remove parasites.
Open-ocean FishDeep DiverCleaning-station Visitor
—observations
—countries
—peak records
VulnerableConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXVulnerableRed List categories, explained →
Diet & preyJelly animals, Small fish, Crustaceans
Predators
- Orcas
- Large sharks
- Sea lions
ThreatsBycatch, plastic ingestion, vessel strikes, and targeted fishing
HabitatsTropical and temperate open ocean from the surface to deep water
Life spanEstimated at several decades; exact longevity remains uncertain
Classification
- OrderTetraodontiformes
- FamilyMolidae
- GenusMola
- SpeciesMola mola
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskHigh
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is high
- Its great mass and fins can injure close swimmers; never touch, chase, or obstruct it.
- Why it is dangerous
- A startled animal weighing hundreds of kilograms can collide with swimmers, divers, or small craft.
- How to recognize a risky encounter
- Confirm the truncated disk-shaped body with very tall dorsal and anal fins moving together.
- What to do
- Never touch, tow, ride, or crowd the fish; move away calmly and keep vessels slow.
Responsible observation
- Surface: Watch for a tall fin moving slowly or a body lying flat.
- Boating: Reduce speed and give any surface-resting animal a wide berth.
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