Molidae
Sign in to saveThe Molidae comprise the family of the molas or ocean sunfishes, unusual fish whose bodies come to an end just behind the dorsal and anal fins, giving them a "half-fish" appearance. They are also the largest of the extant ray-finned bony fish, with the southern sunfish, Mola alexandrini, recorded at in length and in weight.
Wikidata facts
- Instance of
- taxon
- Parent taxon
- Tetraodontoidei
- Image
- MolaMola Lisboa20051020 Modified.jpg
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Article
5 sectionsContents
- Description
- Behavior
- Fossil record
- Species
- References
The Molidae comprise the family of the molas or ocean sunfishes, unusual fish whose bodies come to an end just behind the dorsal and anal fins, giving them a "half-fish" appearance. They are also the largest of the extant ray-finned bony fish, with the southern sunfish, Mola alexandrini, recorded at in length and in weight.
The family name comes from the ocean sunfish's scientific name Mola mola, with its tautonymous name originating from the Latin word mola for "millstone" because of its circular shape.