Learn about:
Mola Mola
The ocean sunfish, or mola mola, is one of the most unique and fascinating fish in the sea. Read on to learn more about this gentle giant!
7 amazing facts about the Mola Fish (Mola mola):
- It's not just fun to say... Mola mola is also the scientific name of the ocean sunfish! Some of this big fish's other nicknames are: sunfish, mola, and moon fish.
- The Mola mola is one of the largest bony fish in the world, reaching weights of over 5,000 pounds!
- The Mola mola has a flat body and tall fins on its back and belly, often making them taller than they are long. Altogether, they can grow to be over 10 feet tall AND 10 feet long.
- The Mola mola's mouth looks a little like a bird's beak. One of their favorite meals is jellyfish, which they suck into their mouth like they're slurping a noodle.
- Although they hunt for food deep below the surface, Mola mola can often be seen "sunbathing" near the surface of the water. Scientists believe that these gentle giants warm up in the sun after swimming in cold, deep waters.
- Because they're so large and spend time near the surface of the water, Mola mola are often accidentally caught in fishing nets. This makes them vulnerable to humans, their largest predator.
- Female Mola mola fish carry 300 MILLION eggs! That's a lot of baby molas! The babies, called fry, swim in massive schools to avoid predators.
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Is that a shark?! No, it's a Mola!
Mola mola have huge dorsal fins that stick up from their backs. Sometimes when they swim near the surface with their fin out of the water, Mola mola are confused for sharks. But, don't worry! Mola mola are gentle giants and pose no danger to people.
A beak like a parrot's
Mola mola have a mouth that looks like a parrot's beak. Four large teeth are fused together in its bony mouth. Hidden inside their mouth and in their throat, Mola mola also have smaller spiny teeth that help them cut up their food into tiny pieces.
Not your typical tail...
Unlike most other fish, Mola mola don't use their fan-shaped tail fins to push through the water. Instead, the Mola mola's tail acts more like a boat's rudder - keeping the fish steady in the water. Mola mola use their dorsal (top) fin and anal (bottom) fin to swim by flapping them side to side.
