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Ocean
Sunfish
The Ocean Sunfish is also called
"Headfish" and it is also called "Moonfish"
after its round appearance.
Order: Tetraodontiformes
Family: Molidae
Genus & Species: Mola mola
Habitat: It lives in the tropical
and temperate surface waters of the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific
Oceans.
Appearance: The ocean sunfish noted for it's one long fin
extending from the top of it's body and another extending from it's
underside. It has a tail which is only a narrow band. This tail
doesn't help it to swim. It has leathery skin and a flattened oval
body. It is a large fish. The Ocean Sunfish may measure up to 11feet(335cm)
in length and weigh up to 2000lbs(908kg). It is normally
gray or brown with a lighter color underside.
Breeding: It may produce more eggs than any other fish. Sometimes
up to 300,000,000 eggs at once.
Swimming: It is a weak swimmer and tend to float on their
sides. Often they are moved by ocean currents. The young fish swim
vertically until adults and then they float on their sides. They
can jump 10feet (3m) into the air and can dive to depths of 600feet(180m).
Food: The Ocean sunfish eat crustaceans, starfish, jellyfish,
sponges, mollusks, algae, plankton, squid, shelfish, ane sometimes
small fish.
Enemies: Great white sharks, orcas, and sea lions. Sea lions
will attack them ferociously, throwing them in the air like a Frisbee.
Relatives: This fish is related to puffers and porcupine
fish however NOT to freshwater sunfish.
Japanese: Manbou
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