James edward hughes
  • Home
  • Blog
  • Essays
    • Science >
      • Science Essays
      • Underwater World >
        • Essays
      • The Lithopaedion's Lair
    • History >
      • History Essays
    • Travel >
      • Holidays and Trips
      • Fossil Hunting
    • Book Reviews
    • Music >
      • Music Essays
      • CD Reviews
      • Concert Reviews
  • About Me
  • Contact

Ocean Wildlife: The Ocean Sunfish

1/8/2011

0 Comments

 
Mola Mola by Richard HerrmannMola Mola by Richard Herrmann
Ever wondered what the largest bony fish in the world was called? Well, it's the Ocean Sunfish, otherwise known as the Mola Mola. The word "Mola" comes from Latin and means "millstone" - a reference to the Sunfish's shape. Averaging about 1000kg (2200lb), this fish is no pushover. In fact, it's only real predators are Sea Lions, Killer Whales, Sharks and Humans.

Often called the "giant floating head", the Sunfish looks like it lacks a true body. The other distinctive feature of the Mola Mola is its rather odd propulsion method. As it has no real body or tail with which to swim, the Sunfish has evolved larger than average dorsal and anal fins, which it moves from side to side in a "sculling" motion. It is this motion which can be used to distinguish the Mola Mola from a shark, especially as the Mola Mola is often seen swimming very near to the surface. The large size of these two fins can make the Sunfish as tall as it is long.

The skin of the Sunfish is filled with parasites. To be rid of these pesky stowaways, it visits cleaner fish such as reef fish, which eat the parasites. It also lies flat on the surface of the ocean, to allow seabirds to feed on the parasites. This sunbathing technique is also thought to be a way of warming the body after the long dives into the deeper, colder waters of the ocean. Finally, the Sunfish has been known to breach the surface of the ocean, splashing back down hard in an attempt to dislodge the parasites.

The first video below is from the National Geographic YouTube channel, while the second is of a talk by marine biologist Tierney Thys from the TED (Technology, Education, Design) website: www.ted.com She has also created the definitive Mola site called The Ocean Sunfish. This super site has loads of facts and figures, and also has a place where you can Adopt a Sunfish. Also, there is an extensive list of resources after the second video.

© James Edward Hughes 2011
Resources:

http://www.oceansunfish.org/

http://www.oceansunfish.org/Potter%20and%20Howell%202010.pdf
http://www.oceansunfish.org/lifehistory.php
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ocean_sunfish
http://www.glaucus.org.uk/Sunfish.htm
http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/fish/mola/
Ocean Sunfish By Deborah Coldiron
http://www.angelfire.com/mo2/animals1/tetra/oceansunfish.html
http://science.jrank.org/pages/4835/Ocean-Sunfish.html
http://weirdimals.wordpress.com/2010/10/14/ocean-sunfish-2/
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-11082731
http://animalcrossing.wikia.com/wiki/Ocean_Sunfish
http://www.oceansunfish.org/evolution.php
http://www.swansea.ac.uk/bs/turtle/reprints/Pope_etal_2010.pdf
http://www.microwavetelemetry.com/newsletters/spring_2007Page5.pdf
http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-an-ocean-sunfish.htm
http://www.itsnature.org/sea/fish/the-molas/
http://oceanwildthings.com/2010/09/ocean-sunfish-holy-mola/
http://www.seaturtle.org/ghays/reprints/Houghton_JMBA_2006.pdf
http://www.physorg.com/news73056143.html
http://www.jstor.org/pss/1436634
http://sciencelinks.jp/j-east/article/200618/000020061806A0676759.php
http://research.allacademic.com/meta/p_mla_apa_research_citation/1/8/6/8/0/p186805_index.html
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1096-3642.1937.tb00818.x/abstract
Nature's Champions: The Biggest, the Fastest, the Best By Alvin Silverstein, Virginia Silverstein, Virginia B. Silverstein
http://www.oceansunfish.org/MolageneticsMarBio05.pdf
http://www.oceansunfish.org/ParasiteList4.pdf
http://www.oceansunfish.org/DewarEtAlJEMBE.pdf
http://sabella.mba.ac.uk/2437/01/sims.pdf
http://www.swansea.ac.uk/bs/turtle/reprints/Hays_etal_JEMBE_2009.pdf
http://www.springerlink.com/content/pw2760r3553l86j7/fulltext.pdf
http://www.asknature.org/referenceMaterial/edeb83d6a24b1fe60b9f07d219c41a67
http://eebweb.arizona.edu/COURSES/Ecol183/lectures%20pdf%202005/sunfish.pdf
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1096-3642.2003.00088.x/full
http://www.oceansunfish.org/Potter%20and%20Howell%202010.pdf

Photography:

http://www.earthwindow.com/mola.html
http://www.oceanlight.com/html/mola_mola.html

Videos:

http://wn.com/ocean_sunfish
0 Comments

    RSS Feed

    Categories

    All
    Natural World
    Science
    Underwater World

    Archives

    September 2011
    May 2011
    March 2011
    January 2011
    August 2010
    June 2010
    May 2010
    April 2010
    March 2010
    February 2010

MOST VIEWED POSTS

QUEEN CATHERINE DE MEDICI
Picture
The "Maggot from Italy's Tomb?" The "Black Widow" of St Bartholomew? Or one of the finest examples of power politics and survival ever seen? Well, I would have to say yes to all of the above, and more! Catherine was one of the most complex characters in a time of massive internal strife in France, with enemies both within (Guise, D'Albret) and abroad (Philip II of Spain).

MARK OLIPHANT
Picture
Born in Kent Town, Adelaide, Australia, Mark Oliphant was a Physicist, who received the prestigious Hughes Medal (other recipients include Alexander Graham Bell, Enrico Fermi, Stephen Hawking, and Andre Geim). He was also a life-long vegetarian after seeing a pig slaughtered at a farm as a child.

HAYDN'S CELLO CONCERTO IN C MAJOR
Picture
The third movement of Haydn's Cello Concerto in C Major is one of my favourite pieces of music. It is a truly joyous piece, and one which I find uplifting. The first performance I heard was by 13-year-old Han-na Chang, who took my breath away with her skill, musicianship and dynamism.

ETTORE MAJORANA & THE MAJORANA FERMION
Picture
New research from Dutch scientists has revitalised the search for the elusive  Majorana Fermion. The Majorana Fermion was first predicted about 75 years  ago by Italian scientist Ettore Majorana, one of the Via Paspernera Boys - a group of scientists named after the street where their lab was located.

LIQUID CRYSTALLINE WATER
Picture
Water. Without it, we would not exist. Covering nearly 71% of the world’s surface, it is one of the key building blocks of life on Earth. We think we know all about it, how it works, and what it does. But Gerald Pollack, Professor of Bioengineering at the University of Washington, Seattle, is sure we don’t!

FRANCO FAGIOLI: COUNTERTENOR ASSOLUTO
Picture
Franco Fagioli is an Argentinian Countertenor "who seems to redefine the capabilities of the countertenor voice." He has won great acclaim for his performance in the role of Arbace in the recent all-male production of Vinci's Artaserse, and will soon be releasing an album celebrating the star castrato Caffarelli.

© James Edward Hughes 2013
  • Home
  • Blog
  • Essays
    • Science >
      • Science Essays
      • Underwater World >
        • Essays
      • The Lithopaedion's Lair
    • History >
      • History Essays
    • Travel >
      • Holidays and Trips
      • Fossil Hunting
    • Book Reviews
    • Music >
      • Music Essays
      • CD Reviews
      • Concert Reviews
  • About Me
  • Contact