Mola alexandrini, also known as Southern Moonfish or big moonfish,- this is one of the largest bony fish in the world. It has a unique appearance, impressive size and a mysterious way of life, which still raises many questions among scientists.
🔹 What makes Mola Alexandrini special?
✔ It can reach more than 4 meters in length and weigh more than 2.7 tons!
✔ The absence of a caudal fin is replaced by a massive "claw-like" body edge
✔ Impressive appearance-like a huge flat head with fins
✔ It lives in the depths of the ocean, but regularly rises to the surface
✔ It leads a slow but hardy lifestyle, and is able to travel long distances
This ocean giant It has no natural enemies (with the exception of killer whales and large sharks) and plays an important role in the ecosystem.
Scientific classification
🔬 Taxonomy of the Alexandrini Pier:
✔ The Kingdom: Animals (Animalia)
✔ Type: Chordal (Chordata)
✔ Class: Lucheperi pisces (Actinopterygii)
✔ Row: Tetraodon-like (Tetraodontiformes)
✔ Family: Pisces Moons (Molidae)
✔ Gender: Mola
✔ View: Mola alexandrini
📌 Interesting!
Mola alexandrini has long been considered a subspecies Mola molabut a 2017 study confirmed that it is separate view.
Description and anatomy
, Main Features:
✔ Body length: on average 2.5-3 m, but record-breaking individuals can reach up to 4.2 m
✔ Body height: may exceed 4 m, if you take into account the length of the dorsal and anal fins
✔ Weight: more than 2.7 tons "it's one of the largest bony fish in the world
✔ Life span: estimated by 50-100 years old, but accurate data is scarce
🔹 Appearance features:
✅ The giant, disc-shaped body is like a huge flat head
✅ Lack of a caudal fin - instead there is a "pseudo-tail" (clavus), which helps to stabilize movement
✅ Large dorsal and anal fins are the main "motors" for movement
✅ Rough, thick skin that protects against parasites and predators
✅ A tiny mouth with fused teeth forming a beak-like structure
📌 Interesting!
Body of the Alexandrini Pier So highthat its height (from dorsal to anal fin) may exceed its length!
Distribution and habitat
🌍 Where does Mola alexandrini live?
This type occurs in warm and temperate ocean waters around the world, in particular in:
✅ In the Atlantic Ocean (from Europe to America)
✅ Indian Ocean (near Africa, India and Australia)
✅ In the Pacific Ocean (from Japan to California and South America)
🔹 Living conditions:
✅ Depths from 200 to 600 m, but often rises to the surface
✅ Warm waters-prefers a temperature of 10-26°C
✅ Can perform vertical migrations to regulate body temperature
📌 Interesting!
Mola alexandrini often lies on its side near the surface of the oceanbasking in the sun-that's why they are called "sunny fish”.
Lifestyle and behavior
🔹 Basic behavioral traits:
✔ Mostly solitary lifestyle, sometimes found in pairs
✔ Slow but steady movement with huge fins
✔ Periodically rises to the surface for warming and cleaning from parasites
✔ Sometimes uses seabirds and fish cleaners to clean their skin
📌 Interesting!
Despite its massive size, Mola alexandrini can perform acrobatic jumps over waterto get rid of parasites!
Food and hunting
🔹 What does Mola Alexandrini eat?
✅ Jellyfish-the main diet
✅ Ctenophori, salpi, plankton
✅ Deep-sea squid, small fish
✅ Crustaceans and other invertebrates
📌 Interesting!
Because of the passion for jellyfish Mola alexandrini has a specialized stomach that helps digest their gelatinous composition.
Reproduction and life cycle
🔹 The reproduction of this fish is still a mystery!
✔ Female Mola alexandrini can lay eggs up to 300 million eggs – this is the largest number among all fish!
✔ Larvae have spiny spikes that disappear with age
✔ Grow very fast-from 3 mm to several meters
📌 Interesting!
Scientists still don't know exact spawning location this fish.
Mola alexandrini and the man
🔹 Interaction with people:
✔ Does not pose a threat to humans-absolutely safe fish
✔ Sometimes it gets caught in fishing towns as bycatch
✔ It is valued as an observation point for divers and tourists
🔹 Environmental status:
⚠ Vulnerable species - due to accidental catch and pollution of the oceans
⚠ The issue of its population and protection is being investigated
📌 Interesting!
The record-breaking Mola alexandrini weighed 2744 kg – this is the largest bony fish in history!
Conclusion
Mola alexandrini-это one of the most unique fish in the world's oceans.
🌊 Its gigantic size, mysterious lifestyle and unusual appearance make it a real natural wonder.
🎣 Would you like to see this giant fish with your own eyes? 🤩🐟
