Ocean Sunfish found at the shores of Sibuyan, Romblon
An estimated seven-foot, 200-kilogram Ocean Sunfish (Mola mola), the heaviest known bony fish in the world was found at the shores of Sibuyan, Romblon on Saturday. With an average adult weight between 247-kg and 1,000-kg, it resembles a fish head with a tail, and its main body is flattened laterally.Female Ocean Sunfish can produce over 300 million eggs each breeding season, making them the most fecund extant vertebrate. They prefer the open ocean but occasionally venture into kelp beds and deep coral reefs in order to be cleaned of parasites by fishes such as Wrasses (F. Labridae) and Emperor Angelfish (Pomacanthus imperator).
Surviving on a diet consisting mainly of jellyfish, Ocean Sunfish have not been evaluated by the IUCN, US Federal List, or CITES.
Kruhay Philippines Biodiversity!
Photos: Zary Mae Maiayas
Source: Flord Nicson J. Calawag Facebook
This individual appears to be a Sharptail Sunfish (Masturus lanceolatus), not an Ocean Sunfish (Mola mola).
Monday Morgue 