Ocean Sunfish

An ocean sunfish (Mola mola) is a large, unique marine fish that is known for being the world's heaviest bony fish. It has a flattened, disc-like body and is named for its habit of basking in the sun near the surface of the water.

The ocean sunfish has a distinct, flattened body that looks like it has been sliced in half. It lacks a true tail fin; instead, it has a rudder-like structure called a clavus. They have two large dorsal and anal fins that they use to propel themselves. Their skin is rough and leathery, and their mouth is small and beak-like. These fish can grow to a massive size, with some individuals weighing over 5,000 pounds (2,200 kg).

Ocean sunfish are found in temperate and tropical oceans all over the world. They spend most of their lives in the open ocean. They are carnivores, and their diet consists of jellyfish, small fish, and crustaceans. Their basking behavior is thought to be a way to warm up after diving to colder, deeper waters in search of food.

Female ocean sunfish can produce an extraordinary number of eggs, up to 300 million at a time, making them the most prolific vertebrate egg-layer. However, very few of these eggs survive to adulthood. The larvae of the ocean sunfish look very different from adults, and they undergo a dramatic transformation as they grow.