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> Tetraodontiformes (Puffers and filefishes) > Molidae (Molas or Ocean Sunfishes)
Etymology: Mola:Latin, mola, -ae = stone mill; because of the shape of this fish (Ref. 45335); tecta:Name from Latin 'tectus' meaning disguised or hidden, as this species evaded discovery for nearly three centuries.
पर्यावरण: पर्यावरण / जलवायु क्षेत्र / गहराई सीमा / वितरण सीमा पारिस्थितिकी
Widespread in the temperate waters of the Southern Hemisphere (with confirmed occurrence in the southeast of Australia (New South Wales, South Australia, Tasmania and Victoria), around New Zealand, off South Africa and Chilean waters) and with occasional, but presumably rare, occurrences in the Northern Hemisphere.
आकार / वज़न / आयु
परिपक्व अवधि: Lm? range ? - ? cm Max length : 242 cm TL पुल्लिंग / अलिंग; (Ref. 115933); अधिकतम प्रकाशित वज़न: 211.0 kg (Ref. 132224)
This species likely exhibits a similar biology to the other Mola species whereby feeding takes place during deep dives. Stomach contents of three specimens consisted of salps (Thetys vagina and Pyrosoma sp.) and the remains of a nectonic siphonophore, and in one instance, a 3 × 5 mm Styrofoam ball. All dissected specimens were heavily infested with parasites, particularly in the intestines (cestodes) and in the liver (likely larval Trypanorhynch cestodes). Gonadal shape differs between the sexes; the ovary is singular and ball-shaped, the testis are paired, elongated and rod-like and do not appear to frill during maturation. Migrations and spawning grounds, eggs, larvae and pre-juveniles are unknown (Ref. 115933).
जीवन चक्र और संभोग व्यवहार परिपक्व अवधि | पुनरुत्पत्ति | मछलीऔ का अंडे देना | अंडे | उपजाऊपन | लार्वा
Nyegaard, M., E. Sawai, N. Gemmell, J. Gillum, N.R. Loneragan, Y. Yamanoue and A.L. Stewart, 2017. Hiding in broad daylight: molecular and morphological data reveal a new ocean sunfish species (Tetrodontiformes: Molidae) that has eluded recognition. Zool. J. of the Linn. Soc., 1-28. (Ref. 115933)
आईयूसीएन रेड लिस्ट स्थिति (Ref. 130435: Version 2025-2 (Global))
