These fish are nutritious and safe to eat regularly, according to consumption guidelines from the Department of Health. “We encourage anglers to keep sunfish under 7 inches and consider releasing the ones 9 inches or larger,” said Jon Hansen, fisheries management consultant.

Centrarchidae (better known as sunfish) are a family of freshwater ray-finned fish belonging to the order Perciformes (formerly to the deprecated Centrarchiformes). Most sunfish are valued for sport fishing, and have been introduced in many areas outside their original ranges, sometimes becoming invasive species.

Scientifically known as Mola mola (which is where its common name “mola” comes from), the ocean sunfish tends to make its home in the deep waters of temperate and tropical oceans.

Apparently, sunfish are rather sensitive animals, so are quite prone to keeling over dead. goo Ranking decided to ask people to rank over-sensitive ways that sunfish may die.

“The fact that ocean sunfish utilize birds to rid them of parasites is actually quite clever,” the biologist said. Sunfish have also been proven to have learning behaviors, which means they can adapt to their changing surroundings (also smart). However, that doesn’t mean that Zenia disliked the post altogether.

Fish do not feel pain the way humans do, according to a team of neurobiologists, behavioral ecologists and fishery scientists. The researchers conclude that fish do not have the neuro-physiological capacity for a conscious awareness of pain. Fish do not feel pain the way humans do.

They are clumsy swimmers, waggling their large dorsal and anal fins to move and steering with their clavus. Their food of choice is jellyfish, though they will eat small fish and huge amounts of zooplankton and algae as well. They are harmless to people, but can be very curious and will often approach divers.

Ocean Sunfish

The heaviest specimen on record is a bump-head sunfish (Mola alexandrini) caught off Kamogawa, Chiba, Japan, in 1996; it weighed 2,300 kilograms (5,070 pounds) and measured 2.72 metres (8 feet 11 inches) long.

Sunfish generally hang out at depths of 160 to 650 feet, but they can dive much deeper on occasion. In one study, scientists recorded a sunfish diving more than 2600 feet below the surface.

“The fact that ocean sunfish utilise birds to rid them of parasites is actually quite clever,” says the biologist. Sunfish have also been proven to have learning behaviours, meaning they can adapt to their surroundings (also smart).”

The most telling difference between a shark and a sunfish is their swimming pattern. While both have dorsal fins, ocean sunfish tend to swim on their sides with their fin bobbing in and out of the water, as opposed to a shark whose fin cuts smoothly through the water. Ocean sunfish pose no threat to humans.

1,000 kgAdult