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MOLA MOLA (OCEAN SUNFISH) INFORMATION AND DESCRIPTION CONTINUE

The adult Mola has an average length of 1.8m or 5.9 ft, although adult have been seen up to 3.3m or 10.8ft (14ft from fin to fin).   Mola Mola rely on its long, thin dorsal and anal fins for propulsion, driving itself forward by moving these fins from side to side. Sometimes the Mola swim near the surface, and their protruding dorsal fins are sometimes mistaken for those of sharks.

Adult sunfish color range from brown to silver-gray or white, with a variety of mottled skin patterns.  The skin can be up to 3 inches or 7.6cm thick, is covered by a layer of mucus instead of scales and is as rough as sandpaper.  Parasites reside on the skin, which motivate the fish to seek relief from reef cleaner fish or even seabirds that feed on the parasites at the surface.

Mola Mola are pelagic and swim at depths of up to 600m or 2,000 ft.  Adults spend a large portion of their lives submerged at depths greater than 200m or 660ft.  They usually stay in water warmer than 10°C or 50°.  Researchers think that the basking behavior at the surface, in which the sunfish swims on its side presenting its largest profile to the sun, may be a method of ‘thermal recharging’ after dives into deeper, colder water.  

Sunfish are usually found alone, occasionally in pairs or in large groups while being cleaned.  Their presence in any area can be used as an indicator of nutrient rich waters where the diet of jellyfish, zooplankton, squid, crustaceans, small fish, fish larvae and eel grass can be found.

Mola Mola can live up to 10 years in captivity, but in natural habitats their life span is unknown and undetermined.  Little is known and understood about the mating practices of the sunfish, but spawning areas have been suggested in North America, South Atlantic, North Pacific, South Pacific and the Indian Oceans.  

Despite their immense size, ocean sunfish are docile and pose no threat to divers; they can be quite curious and have been known to approach and divers just to investigate.

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