Ocean sunfish

Hooper, S.N., Paradis, M. and Ackman, R.G. (1973). Distribution of trans-6-hexade-cenoic acid, 7-methyl-7-hexadecenoic acid and common fatty acids in lipids of the ocean sunfish. Lipids 8,509-516. 

M, Cabioch L (1991) Le fleuve cotier un phenomene hydrologique important en Manche orientale (exemple du Pas de Calais). Oceanol Acta 11 197-203 Buskey EJ 1998. Components of mating behavior in planktonic copepods. J Mar Syst 15 13-21 Cartamil DP, Lowe CG (2004) Diel movement patterns of ocean sunfish Mola mola off southern California. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 266 245-253... 

The ocean sunfish Mola mola), also called the headfish, is so named because of its unique shape it looks as if it is all head and no body. 

The ocean sunfish is a very large species that lives in tropical and temperate waters. The ocean sunfish has a flattened, oval body that may measure 11 ft (3.5 m) in length and weigh as much as 2,000 lb (1,000 kg). In contrast to its huge size, it has a vertebrae column of only 0.5 in (12 mm) in length. The body is oval and has a thick leathery skin. Most ocean sunfish are gray, olive brown, sometimes nearly black, with light undersides. 

The ocean sunfish has a snout which protrudes out beyond a small mouth, which consists of both an upper and lower jaw. The jaws are toothed and are joined to form a single, sharp-edged beak. 

The fins of the ocean sunfish are distinctive there is a single long dorsal fin extending from the top and an equally long anal fin. The body ends abruptly with a low tail fin, and a rounded and wavy tail. The pointed-tailed sunfish (Mola lanceolata), has a tail drawn out into a point in the middle. The oblong-shaped sunfish Ranza-nia truncata) has a tail with a more rounded margin. 

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