Key Information
Ocean Sunfish
| Species | Mola mola |
| Diet | Carnivore |
| Height | Up to 10 ft 10 in |
| Weight | 545 to 2,205 lb |
| Lifespan | Up to 10 years in captivity |
| Classification | Actinopterygii > Tetraodontiformes > Molidae |
| Conservation Status | Vulnerable |
| Habitat | Temperate and Tropical Oceans |
Learning Point
- One of the largest and heaviest bony fishes in the world, the Ocean Sunfish is a giant fish that is known for its unusual shape, looking like half a fish, and also for basking on the surface of the oceans.
Project
- Draw an Ocean Sunfish exploring the oceans.
- Overview
- X-Ray
Location
| Places | Every ocean in their temperate and tropical areas |
Fun Facts
- Although said to be the heaviest bony fish, the Ocean Sunfish isn’t quite the heaviest, but can weigh up to 2,200 lb or more.
- Ocean Sunfish have four teeth arranged in a way that makes it look like it has a beak.
- It has different names in different languages, including sunfish, millstone, moon fish, swimming head, head alone, lump fish and even toppled wheel fish.
- The heaviest Ocean Sunfish weighed about 5,100 lb.
- A single female can lay as many as 300 million eggs!
Past Lessons
| 96 | September 13, 2023 | (North America) |