Main identification features
- elongate (length = height x2), compressed
- blue + white bars
- dorsal and anal finslong, pointed
- tail fin very short
Slender mola, Slender sunfish
Elongate, height ~1/3 length; mouth small, in a vertical slit when closed; skin smooth, consists of small, hard, hexagonal plates; dorsal and anal fins long, slender; pectorals long, pointed; tail profile oblique, without rear extension; dorsal 17-19 rays; anal 18-19 rays; pectoral 13 rays.
Dark grey to dark blue above, silvery on sides and belly; head and lower belly with thin undulating black-edged white bars, white spots and vertical streaks on body between dorsal and anal fins.
Size: 100 cm.
Habitat: oceanic.
Depth: 0-200 m.
Circumtropical; possibly throughout our region except most of the Gulf of California.
Attributes
Abundance: Common.
Cites: Not listed.
Climate Zone: North Temperate (Californian Province &/or Northern Gulf of California); Northern Subtropical (Cortez Province + Sinaloan Gap); Northern Tropical (Mexican Province to Nicaragua + Revillagigedos); Equatorial (Costa Rica to Ecuador + Galapagos, Clipperton, Cocos, Malpelo); South Temperate (Peruvian Province ).
Depth Range Max: 200 m.
Depth Range Min: 0 m.
Diet: zooplankton; pelagic fish larvae.
Eastern Pacific Range: Northern limit=35; Southern limit=-20; Western limit=-121; Eastern limit=-70; Latitudinal range=55; Longitudinal range=51.
Egg Type: Pelagic; Pelagic larva.
Feeding Group: Planktivore.
FishBase Habitat: Pelagic.
Global Endemism: Circumtropical ( Indian + Pacific + Atlantic Oceans); East Pacific + Atlantic (East +/or West); Transisthmian (East Pacific + Atlantic of Central America); East Pacific + all Atlantic (East+West); TEP non-endemic; "Transpacific" (East + Central &/or West Pacific); All species.
Habitat: Water column.
Inshore Offshore: Offshore; Offshore Only.
IUCN Red List: Not evaluated / Listed.
Length Max: 100 cm.
Regional Endemism: Island (s); Continent; Continent + Island (s); Tropical Eastern Pacific (TEP) non-endemic; Eastern Pacific non-endemic; All species.
Residency: Resident.
Salinity: Marine; Marine Only.
Water Column Position: Mid Water; Near Surface; Surface; Water column only;
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