Ocean sunfish facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ocean sunfish |
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| Sunfish, Nordsøen Oceanarium, Hirtshals, Denmark | |
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Not evaluated (IUCN 3.1)
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| Scientific classification | |
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Molidae
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Mola
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M. mola
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| Mola mola (Linnaeus, 1758)
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The Ocean sunfish (Mola mola), also known as the mola or sun fish, is a super big ocean fish. You can find it in warm and mild parts of the ocean all over the world. It looks really unique! Its body is almost round and very flat, like a pancake standing on its side.
This amazing fish swims by flapping its long top (dorsal) and side (pectoral) fins. Its tiny tail fin helps it steer, like a rudder on a boat. Sometimes, you might see sunfish floating on their sides near the surface of the water. Scientists think they might be soaking up the sun's warmth this way. Ocean sunfish eat many different things, including jellyfish, squid, small fish, and even some types of algae.
Contents
About the Ocean Sunfish
The ocean sunfish is the heaviest bony fish in the world! It can weigh more than a small car. Imagine a fish that's as tall as it is long – that's the sunfish! Its body is flattened from side to side, which makes it look like a giant fish head with a small tail attached.
Where They Live
Ocean sunfish live in tropical and temperate waters. This means you can find them in oceans that are not too hot and not too cold. They are found all around the globe, from the Atlantic to the Pacific and Indian Oceans.
What They Eat
Ocean sunfish have a varied diet. They love to eat jellyfish, which is a big part of their meals. They also munch on other sea creatures like crustaceans (like crabs), starfish, sponges, mollusks (like snails), and even tiny plankton. Sometimes, they will eat squid and small fish too.
Life Cycle and Growth
When a baby sunfish (called a fry) is born, it looks very different from its parents. It has spines all over its body, which disappear as it grows bigger. Sunfish grow incredibly fast. They can gain a lot of weight in a short amount of time, especially when they eat a lot of jellyfish.
Images for kids
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The ocean sunfish is the heaviest of all bony fishes. It has a flattened body and is as tall as it is long.
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A sunfish fry, which still possesses spines that will later disappear
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A skeleton, showing the structure of the fins
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A sunfish caught in 1910, with an estimated weight of 1600 kg (3500 lb)
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A tank at the Monterey Bay Aquarium provides a size comparison between an ocean sunfish and humans.
See also
In Spanish: Pez luna para niños
