Mola tecta
| Mola tecta | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Tetraodontiformes |
| Family: | Molidae |
| Genus: | Mola |
| Species: | M. tecta |
| Binomial name | |
| Mola tecta Nyegaard et al., 2017 | |
The hoodwinker sunfish (Mola tecta) is a newly discovered[1] sunfish species in the genus Mola belonging to the family Molidae. It is closely related to its congener, the larger and much wider known Mola mola. Discovered on a beach near Christchurch, New Zealand in 2014, it is the first species of sunfish to be identified in 130 years.[2]
Description
The hoodwinker sunfish is slimmer and with a sleeker adult body shape. Unlike other Mola species it lacks "lumps, bumps, or a snout" even as an adult. It is found in the Southern Hemisphere.[3] The hoodwinker sunfish is larger than other species of sunfish, reaching up to ten feet in length and weighing up to two tons.[2]
Distribution
To date this fish been found in waters around New Zealand, Southeast Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, New South Wales, South Africa, and Chile.[4][3][2]
Diet
References
- 1 2 "New Giant Ocean Sunfish Species Discovered". News Hub. New Zealand. July 2017.
- 1 2 3 Williams, Janice (2017-07-24). "New and biggest species of sunfish found in New Zealand after 130 years of searching". Newsweek. Retrieved 2018-01-29.
- 1 2 Lang, Hannah (July 2017). "Massive Two-Ton Fish Species Discovered". National Geographic.
- ↑ http://www.buceandochile.cl/peces-de-chile-el-mola-tecta-o-pez-luna-timador/
Further reading
- Nyegaard, M.; Sawai, E.; Gemmell, N.; Gillum, J.; Loneragan, N. R.; Yamanoue, Y.; Stewart, A. L. (2017). "Hiding in broad daylight: molecular and morphological data reveal a new ocean sunfish species (Tetraodontiformes: Molidae) that has eluded recognition". Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society. doi:10.1093/zoolinnean/zlx040.