HOLY MOLA! Check out this Oceanic Sunfish (Mola mola) during our 24hr Marine Mammal and Pelagic Bird trip. This was just one of MANY MOLAS all through out the day! This individual had a lamprey latched on and we also saw another with a remora! We can spot them from a distance when their large dorsal fin flops back and forth at the surface of the water. They are a very unique fish with a large dorsal and anal fin and a short caudal fin. 📸 : Melissa Laurino https://www.capemaywhalewatch.com/offsh

The ocean sunfish, also known as the Mola Mola, can grow to be over 10 feet long and average around 2,200 pounds. So what's the deal with this bizarre ocean creature? While their distinctive flattened body and large fins make them look positively alien, they’re perfectly adapted to their ocean environment. Unlike most fish, the tail of the ocean sunfish never fully develops. Instead, they use their dorsal and cloacal fins to awkwardly propel themselves through the water–their large dorsal fin ca