Sunfish in Cozumel

[jayjoans]

They look like a design mistake. Like someone forgot to finish the model and the project somehow got sent into production.:shocked2:

The AMC Pacer of the seas.

 

[Pelagicsal]

Well done, JayJoans!

 

[DandyDon]

Get a camera permantly attached to you somewhere. What a great find, even if it was someone else's first. I've never heard of that version, but we have a little fresh water fish that goes by the same name.

That ain't no perch.

Molidae - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Molidae is the family of the molas or ocean sunfishes, unique fish whose bodies come to an end just behind the dorsal and anal fins, giving them a "half-a-fish" appearance. They are also the largest of the ray-finned bony fishes, with the ocean sunfish Mola mola recorded at up to 3.3 metres (11 ft) in length and 2 tonnes (2.2 short tons) in weight.[1]

They have the fewest vertebrae of any fish, only 16 in Mola mola. They have fairly rough skin. Also, they completely lack all caudal bones, and most of their skeleton is made of cartilage. There are no bony plates in the skin; it is, however, thick and dense like cartilage. They also lack a swim bladder. The meat contains the same toxin as in pufferfish and porcupine fish, but not in the same amounts.

Molids mostly swim by using their anal and dorsal fins, the pectoral fins are probably just stabilizers. To steer, they squirt a strong jet of water out of their mouth or gills. They are said to be able to produce sound by grinding their pharyngeal teeth, which are long and claw-like. Typical of a member of Tetraodontiformes, their teeth are fused into a beak-like structure, making it impossible for them to close their mouth. Despite this, they feed mainly on soft-bodied animals, such as jellyfish and salps, although they will also take small fish or crustaceans.[1]

 

[jjwdiver]

LMAO!

The AMC Pacer of the seas.

 

[ggunn]

There is (or was when I was there a few years ago) one of these guys in the big tank at the Monterrey Aquarium. There is a section of stadium seating there facing what I am pretty sure is one of the largest glass aquarium windows anywhere, and every time the mola mola would come by the window, it would get an ovation from whoever was gathered there. The combination of very large and very weird is a stunning one indeed.

 

[jayjoans]

It's still there in the Monterey aquarium, that's the first thing I thought of when I opened this thread, followed quickly by the Pacer....

(I'm assuming you mean the Monterey, CA aquarium, and not a possible Monterrey, Mexico aquarium that I know nothing about)

 

[driftin' by]

Good luck. I've been going to Cozumel since 1978 and I've never seen one there.

I think it's a fluke rather than something a few of us will see.

Doesn't hurt to wish and hope.

 

[richhagelin]

On May 20th, I saw something in the distance and couldn't identify it. Was diving at Santa Rosa wall. I am pretty sure that was what it was now.

Rich Hagelin

 

[Pelagicsal]

Doesn't hurt to wish and hope.

You were reading my mind! Serendipity isn't my middle name for nothing! :doh2:

Go sunfish. It's your big day. We gonna party like it's your big day...........

Woo hoo! Three weeks til sunfish seeking...

Don't know what I'd think if I saw it from a distance. Took me awhile to figure out what an underwater-swimming cormorant was.

Hope hope hope wish wish wish wish...

 

[DandyDon]

I'd love to see one, but I think they are deep, still water fish - feeing on jellies and depending on cleaners living in kelp mats to clean their parasites - from what I have read.