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Sunfish

Sunfish (mola mola)
© Shutterstock / Mohamed AlQubaisi

Common name:

Sunfish

Scientific name:

Mola spp.

Spanish name:

Pez luna

Conservation status:

Vulnerable

EX EW CR EN VU NT LC

Maximum size:

4.2 metres tall (Mola mola) / 3.3 metres tall (Mola ramsayi)

Average weight:

1 tonne (Mola mola)

Overview

There are two Mola species that are thought to be found in Galapagos: Mola mola, the ocean sunfish and Mola ramsayi, the southern sunfish. They look very similar and the southern sunfish was only confirmed as a visitor to the Islands through genetic analysis in 2011. They are found throughout the globe, in tropical, sub-tropical and temperate waters as they prefer temperatures of at least 10° C – anything colder may cause disorientation. This is probably why they are usually observed basking in the sun, close to the surface, which is where they gained their English name. Their Latin name, Mola, means ‘millstone’, taken from their rounded body and grey colour. 

Sunfish in Galapagos

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