Species Mola mola (Linnaeus, 1758)
Ocean Sunfish, Short Sunfish
Type data:
Neotype MZUB unnumbered mounted skin, 59.7 cm TL, Adriatic Sea.Subsequent designation references:
Sawai, E., Yamanoue, Y., Nyegaard, M. & Sakai, Y. 2018. Redescription of the bump‑head sunfish Mola alexandrini (Ranzani 1839), senior synonym of Mola ramsayi (Giglioli 1883), with designation of a neotype for Mola mola (Linnaeus 1758) (Tetraodontiformes: Molidae). Ichthyological Research 65: 142-160 [154].- Mola aculeata Koelreuter, I.T. 1766. Piscium rariorum e mus. petrop. exceptorum descriptiones continuatae. Novi Commentarii Academiae Scientiarum Imperialis Petropolitanae 10: 329-351 [dated 1774] [337, pl. 8(2-3)].
Type data:
Status unknown, whereabouts unknown, no locality.
Taxonomic Decision for Synonymy
- Fraser-Brunner, A. 1951. The ocean sunfishes (family Molidae). Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History) Historical Series 1(6): 89-121 figs 1-18 [113]
Generic Combinations
- Mola mola (Linnaeus, 1758). —
Jordan, D.S. 1885. A list of fishes known from the Pacific coast of tropical America, from the Tropic of Capricorn to Panama. Proceedings of the United States National Museum 8: 361-394 [393]
Distribution
States
New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Victoria, Western Australia
Extra Distribution Information
Off Crowdy Head, NSW (31°S) to Mandurah, WA (32°32'S) and TAS, also Christmas Island; tropical, temperate, circumglobal.
IMCRA
Southeast Transition (11), Central Eastern Province (12), Christmas Island Province (23), Southwest Shelf Province (31), Spencer Gulf Shelf Province (33), Tasmanian Shelf Province (36), Southeast Shelf Transition (37), Central Eastern Shelf Province (38), Southwest Transition (7), Southern Province (8), West Tasmania Transition (9)
Ecological Descriptors
Oceanic province, pelagic.
Extra Ecological Information
Occasionally coming inshore.
General References
Ayling, A.L. 1983. Growth and regeneration rates in thinly encrusting Demospongiae from temperate waters. Biological Bulletin. Marine Biological Laboratory (Woods Hole) 165: 343-352 [319]
Bray, D.J. 2008. Family Molidae. pp. 858-861 in Gomon, M.F., Bray, D.J. & Kuiter, R.H. (eds). Fishes of Australia's Southern Coast. Sydney : Reed New Holland 928 pp. [860]
Fraser-Brunner, A. 1951. The ocean sunfishes (family Molidae). Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History) Historical Series 1(6): 89-121 figs 1-18 [113]
Glover, C.J.M. 1994. Family Molidae. pp. 915-920, figs 808-810 in Gomon, M.F., Glover, C.J.M. & Kuiter, R.H. (eds). The Fishes of Australia's South Coast. Adelaide : State Printer 992 pp. 810 figs. [918]
Grant, E.M. 1991. Fishes of Australia. Brisbane : EM Grant Pty Ltd 480 pp. [415]
Hutchins, J.B. 2001. Molidae. pp. 3966-3968 in Carpenter, K.E. & Niem, T.H. (eds). The Living Marine Resources of the Western Central Pacific. FAO Species Identification Guide for Fisheries Purposes. Rome : FAO Vol. 6 pp. 3381-4218. [3967]
McCulloch, A.R. 1929. A check-list of the fishes recorded from Australia. Part III. Records of the Australian Museum 5: 329–436 [436] (in part, included ramsaysi as a junior synonym)
Common Name References
Gomon, M.F., Glover, C.J.M. & Kuiter, R.H. (eds) 1994. The Fishes of Australia's South Coast. Adelaide : State Printer 992 pp. 810 figs. [918] (Short Sunfish)
Hutchins, J.B. 2001. Molidae. pp. 3966-3968 in Carpenter, K.E. & Niem, T.H. (eds). The Living Marine Resources of the Western Central Pacific. FAO Species Identification Guide for Fisheries Purposes. Rome : FAO Vol. 6 pp. 3381-4218. [3967] (Ocean Sunfish)
Seafood Services Australia 2008. Australian Fish Names Standard. http://www.fishnames.com.au/. (Ocean Sunfish)
Yearsley, G.K., Last, P.R. & Hoese, D.F. 2006. Standard names of Australian fishes. CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research Paper 9: 1-64 [65] (Ocean Sunfish)
History of changes
| Published | As part of group | Action Date | Action Type | Compiler(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11-Sep-2020 | MOLIDAE | 03-Sep-2020 | MODIFIED | Dr Doug Hoese (AM) Dr Matthew Lockett (ABRS) |
| 31-Oct-2011 | MODIFIED |