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This month we are spending time talking about the oceans sunlight zone, so its only right that our spotlight species is an animal that enjoys spending its time in the same place. The ocean sunfish, also known as the common mola, is a bony fish that can weigh up to 4,400 pounds. Ocean sunfish are very unique looking and have a large dorsal fin that people often mistake for sharks. Their bodies look like a huge, flattened oval and they are often grey or brown in color. These huge creatures are found all around the world in tropical and temperate waters. Just like humans, these fish like sunbathing so they are often close to the surface, laying on their sides. Ocean sunfish are not aggressive and very curious, and they are often found approaching divers, surfers, and swimmers. Due to their large size and unique body type, ocean sunfish are not very fast swimmers, and this means they have a lot of predators. Sea lions, sharks, and whales are some of the top predators of ocean sunfish, but they are actually vulnerable to becoming endangered because of humans accidently catching them in fishing nets. These fish are important to ocean ecosystems as they provide special jobs, like controlling jellyfish populations. Without ocean sunfish around to eat jellyfish, the populations would be too high, and they would cause damage to the surrounding ecosystems. Ocean sunfish are not only incredibly neat creatures, they are also important species to many environments.
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