![]() What they have in common may be adaptive to pelagic life and to study it may lead to solve evolution of pelagic species,” says Itsumi Nakamura, a biologist at the University of Tokyo. “Sunfish are one of the most advanced bony fish, but they have a lot in common with cartilaginous fish. According to some scientists, mola could provide a missing link to understand their open ocean neighbors animals, like sharks. Sharks and rays, however, have a cartilaginous skeleton. Like humans, and many other fish, they have a bony internal skeleton. Mola are pelagic, which means they live in the open ocean. So why does it matter if Mola mola are caught in mesh nets? They make up the largest bycatch component (29 percent) in the California drift-gillnet swordfish fishery. But the hapless fish ends up tangled in fishing nets, as bycatch for more valuable target species. ![]() ![]() In fact, females can produce up to 300 million eggs, more than any other bony fish. Mola mola are not endangered and not eaten in the United States. But many people have never heard of them, let alone seen one. These fish live off the California coast and around the world in temperate and tropical areas. The expletive-shouting Boston fisherman is unsure if he’s witnessing a baby whale or sea turtle, two seemingly dissimilar animals. But I’ve never faced the puckered lips and buggy eyes of the whimsical Mola mola - a fish that can reach the weight of an adult rhinoceros.īiologists have affectionately described Mola, or ocean sunfish, as a “a swimming head.” And while they seem to just float aimlessly at the surface, scientists are finding that these fish - which occupy a crucial evolutionary link in the fish family- are actually warming up after epic daily treks into deep water.Ī testament to this bizarre nature, a viral video of the sunfish circulated in September of 2015. As a freediver, I’ve met the humbling gaze of a tiger shark and tossed around seaweed with playful wild spotted dolphins. ![]() I’m in search of a creature that has eluded me for many years. With a final breath of air, I descend beneath the surface among swaying kelp and flying sea lions. ![]()
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