FAMILIES - Detail

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Family Molidae - Molas or Ocean Sunfishes

Order:

Tetraodontiformes

Class:

Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes)

No. of Genera:

No. of Species:

Environment:

Fresh: No Brackish: No Marine: Yes

Aquarium:

none

First Fossil Record:

upper Tertiary, Miocene Ref.: Berg, L.S..1958

Remark:

Distribution: worldwide in tropical to temperate seas. Mouth tiny; teeth united and beaklike (Ref. 50659). Jaws with 2 fused teeth. Each side of head with 2 tiny nostrils. Dorsal and anal fins lacking spines, but provides the power for locomotion. Caudal peduncle absent. Caudal fin, when present, a pseudocaudal fin being formed by posteriorly migrated dorsal and anal fin rays. No lateral line. No swim bladder. Vertebrae 16-18 (Ref. 245). Pelvic fins absent. Skin leathery and thick. Gill openings small, in front of pectoral fins. Gray above, silvery gray-brown on sides, paler or dusky below. Two species grow to about 3 m in length, largest to 1,500 kg. Fecundity can register an estimated 300,000,000 eggs in Mola mola. Young are spiny and differ markedly from adults. Slow-swimming, epipelagic plankton feeders; some prey on jellyfishes but also feed on algae, crustaceans and fishes (Ref. 50659).

Etymology:

Latin, mola = millstone, by the shape of this fish ( Ref. 45335).

Division:

Marine

Reproductive guild:

nonguarders

Main Ref.:

Nelson, J.S..1984

Coordinator:

Show species | Nominal species list for Molidae | Identification keys | CAS specimen photos | References

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