The ocean sunfish, a massive creature weighing up to two tonnes and adorned with parasites, including its eyeballs, may not match the typical image of a fish. In a detailed exploration on The Nature of Things 101, Sarika Cullis-Suzuki delves into the intriguing features of what could be the world’s most peculiar fish.
Cullis-Suzuki highlights the unique characteristics of the Mola mola, a species of ocean sunfish and one of the largest fish globally, showcasing its circular body, lack of a tail, and enormous fins using a life-size model. Despite being underrated, these fish exhibit remarkable behavior by traveling long distances, diving hundreds of meters deep multiple times daily in search of food. However, their slow movement, large surface area, and passage through various water zones make them susceptible to parasites.
The Mola mola is infested with parasites throughout its body, including the skin, gills, fins, eyeballs, mouth, and intestine. A staggering 73 different parasite species have been identified on the Mola mola and other ocean sunfish types, some even hosting parasites themselves.
To combat these parasites, the sunfish employs unique tactics such as breaching, leaping out of the water and slamming back down, possibly to dislodge parasites. Additionally, they allow smaller fish and birds to feed on the parasites infesting them. Despite the existing knowledge about ocean sunfish, there remains much to discover about this species, emphasizing the need for further research.
Cullis-Suzuki emphasizes the ongoing need for more in-depth study of the ocean sunfish, indicating that there is still a wealth of information waiting to be uncovered. Viewers can explore more about this fascinating creature by watching The Nature of Things 101 on CBC Gem or the The Nature of Things YouTube channel.