Ocean Sunfish
Mola mola
Identification
The ocean sunfish is the one of one of the heaviest bony fish in the world, reaching over 1000 kg. The body is round and strongly laterally compressed, with a bizarre, truncated rear end — a true tail fin is absent. Instead, a wavy skin fold called the clavus connects the dorsal and anal fins. Thick, rough, scaleless skin. Grey to silvery-grey.
Ecology
Lives in the open ocean and feeds mainly on jellyfish, supplemented by salps, squid, and zooplankton. Regularly floats sideways at the surface to warm up in the sun and be cleaned by seabirds.
In the Netherlands
Regularly spotted off the Dutch coast in summer, carried by warm Atlantic currents. Strandings occur. Despite its enormous size, the ocean sunfish is completely harmless to humans.
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Seasonal patterns
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Key predictors
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