Wild Wednesday - Sunfish
The Sunfish is an odd-looking fish, being large flat and circular, likened to a swimming head! They are known for their unique, flattened shape with a large dorsal fin and a tail that looks like a rudder.
Also known as Mola mola, they are fascinating creatures that can occasionally be spotted in southern UK waters, especially to feed on jellyfish, which is its main source of food, but are more common in warmer seas.
They can grow up to ten feet in length and weigh as much as 2,200 kilograms, though most in the UK are much smaller.
The sunfish is the heaviest bony fish in the world and produces the most eggs of any vertebrate. They are summer visitors to our waters and get their name because they like to bask in the sun, on their sides, at the surface, to warm up after being in colder waters.
While sunfish are not currently listed as endangered, they face threats from fishing nets and plastic pollution (marine litter is a big threat, as they can mistake plastic bags for food), their slow reproductive rate and vulnerability to human activities make them susceptible to population decline in certain areas.
Sunfish sightings are rare but exciting due to their size and distinctive look. In the UK, boaters, divers, or researchers are more likely to spot them, especially when conditions like warm water currents bring them closer to shore.
Read more here: Sunfish | The Wildlife Trusts