Ocean Sunfishマンボウ
Mola molaVU— Vulnerable
The ocean sunfish (Mola mola) is the heaviest known bony fish, reaching up to 3.3 m long and 2,300 kg, and drifts through temperate and tropical oceans worldwide from the surface down to about 800 m. Despite its reputation as a jellyfish specialist, genetic studies show it is a generalist predator that eats mostly small fish, squid, and crustaceans, with jellyfish making up only about 15% of its diet. Bycatch in drift gillnet and trawl fisheries is its main threat, and it is classified Vulnerable by the IUCN.
Ocean Sunfish (reference photo)
Species Data
- Classification
- Tetraodontiformes / Molidae Source
- Size
- Maximum total length about 333 cm, maximum weight about 2.3 tons
- Lifespan
- Wild: estimated 2–23 years (females) / 1–16 years (males); the longest record in captivity is about 10 years
- Diet
- Carnivore Eats jellyfish and other zooplankton, but genetic analysis shows it is an omnivorous predator that also takes small fish primarily, along with squid, crustaceans, and mollusks (jellyfish make up only about 15% of the diet)
- Distribution
- Found in temperate and tropical waters of every ocean in the world, from the surface down to around 800 m, generally preferring water warmer than 10°C. Source
- Sources
- ja.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org
Did You Know?
- Larvae resemble baby pufferfish before passing through a spiny, boxfish-like armored stage on their way to the adult body shape. Source
- Females can produce up to 300 million eggs per spawn, among the most of any vertebrate. Source
- Larval sunfish can grow up to 60 million times their original weight before reaching adult size. Source
Where to See This Species
Operating facilities registered on this site: Japan 5
Osaka Aquarium KaiyukanOsakaOpened in 1990
Aqua World Ibaraki Prefecture Oarai AquariumIbarakiAddress: 8252-3 Isohama-cho, Oarai-machi, Higashiibaraki-gun, Ibaraki Prefecture.
Sunshine AquariumTokyoFrom Ikebukuro Station (Exit 35), walk along Sunshine 60 Street.
Echizen Matsushima AquariumFukuiOpened in 1959
Shimoda AquariumShizuokaOpened in 1967
Former facilities
Marinpiamatsushima SuizokukanMiyagiOpened in 1927
Closed: 2015-05-10 Official Site
Enoshima SuizokukanKanagawaOpened in 1954
Closed: 2004-01 Official Site
Shima MarinelandMieOpened in 1970
Closed: 2021-03-31 Official Site
Conservation Story
Conservation Status
Vulnerable (VU)
Sources
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FAQ
- How much can an ocean sunfish weigh?
- Up to about 2,300 kg, making it the heaviest known bony fish in the world. Source
- Does the ocean sunfish only eat jellyfish?
- No; genetic analysis shows it is a generalist predator that eats mostly small fish, squid, and crustaceans, with jellyfish making up only around 15% of its diet. Source
- Why is the ocean sunfish considered Vulnerable?
- It suffers heavy bycatch in drift gillnet and trawl fisheries targeting swordfish and other species, prompting an EU ban on selling Molidae fishery products. Source
- How many operating facilities are registered here?
- Operating facilities registered on this site: Japan 5 Source