Description
provided by World Register of Marine Species
It often drifts at the surface while lying on its side, or swims upright and so close to the surface that the dorsal fin projects above the water. Sometimes reaches depths of up to 300 m (Ref. 9317). Feeds on animal plankton, eel larvae, small deep-sea fishes; also on jellyfish, crustaceans, molluscs, and brittlestars (Ref. 4925). In Guiness Book of Records it was recorded as the heaviest bony fish and as the one with the most eggs (Ref. 6472). Also occasionally caught with encircling nets (Ref. 9119) and harpoon (Ref. 9988). Mola is the latin word for millstone. Utilized fresh and can be broiled (Ref. 9988).
Froese, R. & D. Pauly (Editors). (2023). FishBase. World Wide Web electronic publication. version (02/2023).
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Diet
provided by World Register of Marine Species
Feeds on fishes, mollusks, zooplankton, jellyfish, crustaceans and brittle stars
North-West Atlantic Ocean species (NWARMS)
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Distribution
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Newfoundland to Argentina
North-West Atlantic Ocean species (NWARMS)
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Habitat
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Found in warm and temperate seas, often drifting on the surface.
North-West Atlantic Ocean species (NWARMS)
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Habitat
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nektonic
North-West Atlantic Ocean species (NWARMS)
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Habitat
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Known from seamounts and knolls
Stocks, K. 2009. Seamounts Online: an online information system for seamount biology. Version 2009-1. World Wide Web electronic publication.
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