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)
Photo: NOAA / Public domain / Source / cropped

Species Data

Classification
Tetraodontiformes / Molidae Source
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

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

8 facilities · 0 individuals

Osaka Aquarium KaiyukanOsakaOpened in 1990

「太平洋」水槽で複数個体を飼育。 Source

アクアワールド茨城県大洗水族館 (Akua World Ibarakikenooarai Suizokukan)Ibaraki所在地: 茨城県東茨城郡大洗町磯浜町8252-3。

アクアワールド茨城県大洗水族館のWikipedia記事に飼育種として記載 Source

サンシャイン水族館 (Sanshain Suizokukan)Tokyo池袋駅（35番出口）からサンシャイン60通りを通って来館。

サンシャイン水族館のWikipedia記事に飼育種として記載 Source

マリンピア松島水族館 (Marinpiamatsushima Suizokukan)MiyagiOpened in 1927

マリンピア松島水族館のWikipedia記事に飼育種として記載 Source

越前松島水族館 (Echizenmatsushima Suizokukan)FukuiOpened in 1959

越前松島水族館のWikipedia記事に飼育種として記載 Source

下田海中水族館 (Shimodakaichuu Suizokukan)ShizuokaOpened in 1967

下田海中水族館のWikipedia記事に飼育種として記載 Source

江の島水族館 (Enoshima Suizokukan)KanagawaOpened in 1954

江の島水族館のWikipedia記事に飼育種として記載 Source

志摩マリンランド (Shimamarin Land)MieOpened in 1970

志摩マリンランドのWikipedia記事に飼育種として記載 Source

Conservation Story

Conservation Status

IUCNでVULNERABLE（危急種）に評価されているが、個体群により評価は異なる

Habitat

表層から水深800m程度までの外洋、水温10℃以上の海域を好む

Threats

  • 刺し網・流し網・トロール漁などによる混獲
  • カリフォルニアのメカジキ漁では漁獲全体の約3割を占めるほどの混獲
  • 地中海のメカジキ漁では混獲率71〜90%との報告もある

Conservation & Breeding Efforts

  • EUがマンボウ科（Molidae）の漁獲物の販売を規制

Sources

en.wikipedia.org

Support Conservation

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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

Source: www.kaiyukan.com www.kaiyukan.com www.marinebio.org