The ocean sunfish, a massive creature weighing up to two tonnes and covered in parasites, may not match the typical image of a fish. In a recent episode of “The Nature of Things 101,” host Sarika Cullis-Suzuki delves into the intriguing world of this peculiar fish, known as the Mola mola.
Cullis-Suzuki highlights the unique features of the ocean sunfish, such as its circular body, lack of a tail, and enormous fins, making it stand out from conventional fish species. She showcases a life-size model to demonstrate what sets the Mola mola apart as one of the largest fish in the ocean.
Despite their ability to travel long distances and dive deep in search of food, these slow-moving creatures with a large surface area are prone to attracting parasites due to their passage through various water zones. Cullis-Suzuki reveals that the ocean sunfish harbors parasites on its skin, gills, fins, eyeballs, mouth, and intestines, with researchers identifying a whopping 73 parasite species infesting the Mola mola and other ocean sunfish varieties, some even carrying secondary parasites.
To combat these parasites, the sunfish employs unique tactics like breaching, jumping out of the water, and slamming back down, potentially to dislodge the parasites. Additionally, they allow smaller fish and birds to feed on the parasites as another form of cleaning.
Despite our current knowledge of the ocean sunfish, Cullis-Suzuki emphasizes that there is still much to uncover about this species. She stresses the importance of further research to deepen our understanding of these fascinating creatures.
For more insights, viewers can tune in to “The Nature of Things 101” on CBC Gem and The Nature of Things YouTube channel for an in-depth exploration of the ocean sunfish.