The Mola Mola (Ocean Sunfish)
The Mola Mola (Ocean Sunfish)
Recently spotted in the waters of Sharm by divers aboard our boat the Eagle Ray was a solitary Mola Mola fish, or Ocean Sunfish. Although not commonly seen when diving in the Red Sea, a Mola Mola is pretty hard to miss when it's there as it's perhaps the world's largest bony fish with adults typically weighing between 247 and 1000 kilograms.
The Mola Mola is also easily recognisable by its distinctive shape, which resembles a fish head without a tail. The whole body of a Mola Mola is flattened literally and has a truncated tail know as a clavus which the fish uses as a rudder.
A fascinating and unique creature that captures the imagination of marine enthusiasts and scientists alike, let's find out a bit more about the Mola Mola which hopefully you may spot when next diving in Sharm.
Habitat Of a Mola Mola
Normally found in tropical and temperate waters around the globe, the Mola Mola travels the world's oceans in search of food to eat. Although as juveniles they may travel in groups of two to three, you will find most adult Mola Mola fish travel alone. Despite their massive size, there's nothing for us divers to be afraid of -- the Mola Mola is fairly docile and gentle around human divers.
Mola Mola prefer to inhabit oceans relatively close to the surface, but they will also return to coral reefs or kelp beds every so often where smaller fish can help clean them of the parasites their skin accumulates. According to the IUCN Red List, the Mola Mola is vulnerable to extinction. - with overfishing contributing to their decline.
What Does A Mola Mola Eat?
Jellyfish, soft-bodied crustaceans, small fish, sponges and squids are thought to make up the typical diet of a Mola Mola fish. Unfortunately, sometimes they mistake plastic bags in the ocean for food which can clog up their stomachs and kill them when consumed ---DON'T DUMP YOUR PLASTIC IN THE OCEAN PLEASE!
The ocean sunfish's mouth is filled with two pairs of hard teeth plates in the pointy shape of a bird's beak allowing them to suck up gelatinous marine life into its mouth without chewing too much.
What Eats a Mola Mola Fish?
Tio be honest not very much! Due to it's incredibly large size, the Mola Mola doesn't have too many predators except perhaps for sea lions, killer whales and large sharks. The younger sunfish may be vulnerable to tuna and other larger fish.
As a relative of the puffer fish, the Mola Mola is considered quite a delicacy in parts of Asia. Although it shares the same puffy round shape when just hatched and similar spines, scientific studies have so far found no traces of toxins in the mola. A popular meal in Asia it is also used in medicines.
Why Are They Also Known As Ocean Sunfish?
Their English name of Ocean Sunfish was given to the Mola Mola for their favouring of swimming close to the surface of the ocean to catch the sun rays. There basically a sun worshipper like you see on many of the beaches of Sharm el Sheikh....without the thongs of course!
Hopefully when you are next diving in Sharm or even diving in Dahab, you will get chance to swim along side one of these huge, magnificent fish.....don't worry as we said before they're very gentle around humans and quite slow and cumbersome swimmers....they're hardly going to be able to chase after you!
