Deep-Sea taxon details
Mola mola (Linnaeus, 1758)
127405 (urn:lsid:marinespecies.org:taxname:127405)
accepted
Species
Orthagoriscus mola · unaccepted (misspelling)
Orthragoriscus mola (Linnaeus, 1758) · unaccepted
marine, brackish, fresh, terrestrial
(of ) Linnaeus, C. (1758). Systema Naturae per regna tria naturae, secundum classes, ordines, genera, species, cum characteribus, differentiis, synonymis, locis. [The system of nature through the three kingdoms of nature, according to classes, orders, genera, species, with characters, differences, synonyms, places.]. <em>Impensis Direct. Laurentii Salvii. Holmiae [Stockholm].</em> 1(10) [iii], 824 p., available online at https://biodiversitylibrary.org/page/726886 [details] Available for editors 
Description It often drifts at the surface while lying on its side, or swims upright and so close to the surface that the dorsal fin...
Distribution Newfoundland to Argentina
Description 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). [details]
Distribution Newfoundland to Argentina
Distribution Newfoundland to Argentina [details]
Froese, R. and D. Pauly. Editors. (2025). FishBase. Mola mola (Linnaeus, 1758). Accessed through: Glover, A.G.; Higgs, N.; Horton, T. (2025) World Register of Deep-Sea species (WoRDSS) at: https://marinespecies.org/DeepSea/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=127405 on 2025-12-09
Glover, A.G.; Higgs, N.; Horton, T. (2025). World Register of Deep-Sea species (WoRDSS). Mola mola (Linnaeus, 1758). Accessed at: https://www.marinespecies.org/DeepSea/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=127405 on 2025-12-09
Date
action
by
original description
(of ) Linnaeus, C. (1758). Systema Naturae per regna tria naturae, secundum classes, ordines, genera, species, cum characteribus, differentiis, synonymis, locis. [The system of nature through the three kingdoms of nature, according to classes, orders, genera, species, with characters, differences, synonyms, places.]. <em>Impensis Direct. Laurentii Salvii. Holmiae [Stockholm].</em> 1(10) [iii], 824 p., available online at https://biodiversitylibrary.org/page/726886 [details] Available for editors
context source (Deepsea) Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO. The Ocean Biogeographic Information System (OBIS), available online at http://www.iobis.org/ [details]
context source (HKRMS) ERM. (1998). Fisheries resources and fishing operations in Hong Kong waters. Final report. Submitted to Agriculture & Fisheries Department, The Hong Kong SAR Government. [details]
context source (Bermuda) Smith-Vaniz, W. F.; Collette, B. B.; Luckhurst, B. E (1999). Fishes of Bermuda: History, zoogeography, annotated checklist, and identification keys (American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists - Special Publication No.4) . ASIH, 424 pp. [details]
context source (PeRMS) Chirichigno, N.; Cornejo, M. (2001). Catálogo comentado de los peces marinos del Perú. <em>2ª ed. Instituto del Mar de Perú. Publicación Especial. Callao.</em> 314 p. [details]
basis of record van der Land, J.; Costello, M.J.; Zavodnik, D.; Santos, R.S.; Porteiro, F.M.; Bailly, N.; Eschmeyer, W.N.; Froese, R. (2001). Pisces, <B><I>in</I></B>: Costello, M.J. <i>et al.</i> (Ed.) (2001). <i>European register of marine species: a check-list of the marine species in Europe and a bibliography of guides to their identification. Collection Patrimoines Naturels,</i> 50: pp. 357-374 (look up in IMIS) [details]
additional source Robins, C. R.; Ray, G. C.; Douglass, J.; Freund, R. (1986). A field guide to Atlantic coast fishes of North America. <em>Houghton Mifflin Co. Boston.</em> 1-354. [details]
additional source Muller, Y. (2004). Faune et flore du littoral du Nord, du Pas-de-Calais et de la Belgique: inventaire. [Coastal fauna and flora of the Nord, Pas-de-Calais and Belgium: inventory]. <em>Commission Régionale de Biologie Région Nord Pas-de-Calais: France.</em> 307 pp., available online at http://www.vliz.be/imisdocs/publications/145561.pdf [details]
additional source King, C.M.; Roberts, C.D.; Bell, B.D.; Fordyce, R.E.; Nicoll, R.S.; Worthy, T.H.; Paulin, C.D.; Hitchmough, R.A.; Keyes, I.W.; Baker, A.N.; Stewart, A.L.; Hiller, N.; McDowall, R.M.; Holdaway, R.N.; McPhee, R.P.; Schwarzhans, W.W.; Tennyson, A.J.D.; Rust, S.; Macadie, I. (2009). Phylum Chordata: lancelets, fishes, amphibians, reptiles, birds, mammals. <em>in: Gordon, D.P. (Ed.) (2009). New Zealand inventory of biodiversity: 1. Kingdom Animalia: Radiata, Lophotrochozoa, Deuterostomia.</em> pp. 431-554. [details]
additional source McEachran, J. D. (2009). Fishes (Vertebrata: Pisces) of the Gulf of Mexico, Pp. 1223–1316 in: Felder, D.L. and D.K. Camp (eds.), Gulf of Mexico–Origins, Waters, and Biota. Biodiversity. Texas A&M Press, College Station, Texas. [details]
additional source Liu, J.Y. [Ruiyu] (ed.). (2008). [Checklist of marine biota of China seas]. <em>China Science Press.</em> 1267 pp. (look up in IMIS) [details] Available for editors
additional source Linnaeus, C. (1758). Systema Naturae per regna tria naturae, secundum classes, ordines, genera, species, cum characteribus, differentiis, synonymis, locis. [The system of nature through the three kingdoms of nature, according to classes, orders, genera, species, with characters, differences, synonyms, places.]. <em>Impensis Direct. Laurentii Salvii. Holmiae [Stockholm].</em> 1(10) [iii], 824 p., available online at https://biodiversitylibrary.org/page/726886
page(s): 334 [details] Available for editors
additional source Fricke, R., Eschmeyer, W. N. & Van der Laan, R. (eds). (2025). ECoF. Eschmeyer's Catalog of Fishes: Genera, Species, References. <em>California Academy of Sciences. San Francisco.</em> Electronic version accessed dd mmm 2025., available online at http://researcharchive.calacademy.org/research/Ichthyology/catalog/fishcatmain.asp [details]
additional source Froese, R. & D. Pauly (Editors). (2025). FishBase. World Wide Web electronic publication. version (04/2025)., available online at https://www.fishbase.org [details]
ecology source Looby, A.; Erbe, C.; Bravo, S.; Cox, K.; Davies, H. L.; Di Iorio, L.; Jézéquel, Y.; Juanes, F.; Martin, C. W.; Mooney, T. A.; Radford, C.; Reynolds, L. K.; Rice, A. N.; Riera, A.; Rountree, R.; Spriel, B.; Stanley, J.; Vela, S.; Parsons, M. J. G. (2023). Global inventory of species categorized by known underwater sonifery. <em>Scientific Data.</em> 10(1). (look up in IMIS), available online at https://doi.org/10.1038/s41597-023-02745-4 [details]
context source (Deepsea) Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO. The Ocean Biogeographic Information System (OBIS), available online at http://www.iobis.org/ [details]
context source (HKRMS) ERM. (1998). Fisheries resources and fishing operations in Hong Kong waters. Final report. Submitted to Agriculture & Fisheries Department, The Hong Kong SAR Government. [details]
context source (Bermuda) Smith-Vaniz, W. F.; Collette, B. B.; Luckhurst, B. E (1999). Fishes of Bermuda: History, zoogeography, annotated checklist, and identification keys (American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists - Special Publication No.4) . ASIH, 424 pp. [details]
context source (PeRMS) Chirichigno, N.; Cornejo, M. (2001). Catálogo comentado de los peces marinos del Perú. <em>2ª ed. Instituto del Mar de Perú. Publicación Especial. Callao.</em> 314 p. [details]
basis of record van der Land, J.; Costello, M.J.; Zavodnik, D.; Santos, R.S.; Porteiro, F.M.; Bailly, N.; Eschmeyer, W.N.; Froese, R. (2001). Pisces, <B><I>in</I></B>: Costello, M.J. <i>et al.</i> (Ed.) (2001). <i>European register of marine species: a check-list of the marine species in Europe and a bibliography of guides to their identification. Collection Patrimoines Naturels,</i> 50: pp. 357-374 (look up in IMIS) [details]
additional source Robins, C. R.; Ray, G. C.; Douglass, J.; Freund, R. (1986). A field guide to Atlantic coast fishes of North America. <em>Houghton Mifflin Co. Boston.</em> 1-354. [details]
additional source Muller, Y. (2004). Faune et flore du littoral du Nord, du Pas-de-Calais et de la Belgique: inventaire. [Coastal fauna and flora of the Nord, Pas-de-Calais and Belgium: inventory]. <em>Commission Régionale de Biologie Région Nord Pas-de-Calais: France.</em> 307 pp., available online at http://www.vliz.be/imisdocs/publications/145561.pdf [details]
additional source King, C.M.; Roberts, C.D.; Bell, B.D.; Fordyce, R.E.; Nicoll, R.S.; Worthy, T.H.; Paulin, C.D.; Hitchmough, R.A.; Keyes, I.W.; Baker, A.N.; Stewart, A.L.; Hiller, N.; McDowall, R.M.; Holdaway, R.N.; McPhee, R.P.; Schwarzhans, W.W.; Tennyson, A.J.D.; Rust, S.; Macadie, I. (2009). Phylum Chordata: lancelets, fishes, amphibians, reptiles, birds, mammals. <em>in: Gordon, D.P. (Ed.) (2009). New Zealand inventory of biodiversity: 1. Kingdom Animalia: Radiata, Lophotrochozoa, Deuterostomia.</em> pp. 431-554. [details]
additional source McEachran, J. D. (2009). Fishes (Vertebrata: Pisces) of the Gulf of Mexico, Pp. 1223–1316 in: Felder, D.L. and D.K. Camp (eds.), Gulf of Mexico–Origins, Waters, and Biota. Biodiversity. Texas A&M Press, College Station, Texas. [details]
additional source Liu, J.Y. [Ruiyu] (ed.). (2008). [Checklist of marine biota of China seas]. <em>China Science Press.</em> 1267 pp. (look up in IMIS) [details] Available for editors
additional source Linnaeus, C. (1758). Systema Naturae per regna tria naturae, secundum classes, ordines, genera, species, cum characteribus, differentiis, synonymis, locis. [The system of nature through the three kingdoms of nature, according to classes, orders, genera, species, with characters, differences, synonyms, places.]. <em>Impensis Direct. Laurentii Salvii. Holmiae [Stockholm].</em> 1(10) [iii], 824 p., available online at https://biodiversitylibrary.org/page/726886
page(s): 334 [details] Available for editors
additional source Fricke, R., Eschmeyer, W. N. & Van der Laan, R. (eds). (2025). ECoF. Eschmeyer's Catalog of Fishes: Genera, Species, References. <em>California Academy of Sciences. San Francisco.</em> Electronic version accessed dd mmm 2025., available online at http://researcharchive.calacademy.org/research/Ichthyology/catalog/fishcatmain.asp [details]
additional source Froese, R. & D. Pauly (Editors). (2025). FishBase. World Wide Web electronic publication. version (04/2025)., available online at https://www.fishbase.org [details]
ecology source Looby, A.; Erbe, C.; Bravo, S.; Cox, K.; Davies, H. L.; Di Iorio, L.; Jézéquel, Y.; Juanes, F.; Martin, C. W.; Mooney, T. A.; Radford, C.; Reynolds, L. K.; Rice, A. N.; Riera, A.; Rountree, R.; Spriel, B.; Stanley, J.; Vela, S.; Parsons, M. J. G. (2023). Global inventory of species categorized by known underwater sonifery. <em>Scientific Data.</em> 10(1). (look up in IMIS), available online at https://doi.org/10.1038/s41597-023-02745-4 [details]
Present Inaccurate Introduced: alien Containing type locality
Unreviewed
Description 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). [details]Diet Feeds on fishes, mollusks, zooplankton, jellyfish, crustaceans and brittle stars [details]
Distribution Newfoundland to Argentina [details]
Habitat Found in warm and temperate seas, often drifting on the surface. [details]
Habitat nektonic [details]
Habitat Known from seamounts and knolls [details]
Importance Scientific- Minor commercial, considered a delicacy in Japan, Chinese medicine [details]
Predators Bony fishes, sharks and rays [details]
Reproduction external reproduction [details]
| Language | Name | |
|---|---|---|
| Albanian | peshku hënëpeshkahanahana | [details] |
| Breton | mouldouz [from synonym]loar [from synonym] | [details] |
| Danish | klumpfisk | [details] |
| Dutch | maanvis | [details] |
| English | sun-fishsunfishocean sunfishGiant sunfishCommon sunfish | [details] |
| French | poisson-lunemole communmôlemole | [details] |
| German | Mondfisch | [details] |
| Hebrew | דג שמש ענק | [details] |
| Japanese | マンボウ | [details] |
| Modern Greek (1453-) | Φεγγαρόψαρο | [details] |
| Norwegian Bokmål | månefisk | [details] |
| Norwegian Nynorsk | månefisk | [details] |
| Russian | рыба-солнцерыба-головаОбыкновенная луна-рыба | [details] |
| Spanish | mola | [details] |
| Swedish | klumpfisk | [details] |
| Turkish | pervane baligiayi baligi | [details] |
| Welsh | pysgodyn haul | [details] |
Encyclopedia of Marine Life of Britain and Ireland
Marine Life Information Network - UK
To Barcode of Life (23 barcodes)
To Biodiversity Heritage Library (249 publications)
To Biodiversity Heritage Library (35 publications) (from synonym Orthragoriscus mola (Linnaeus, 1758))
To Biodiversity Heritage Library (514 publications) (from synonym Orthagoriscus mola)
To Biological Information System for Marine Life (BISMaL)
To Dyntaxa
To European Nucleotide Archive, ENA (Mola mola)
To FishBase
To FishBase (from synonym Orthragoriscus mola (Linnaeus, 1758))
To Fishipedia
To FishSounds
To GenBank (57521 nucleotides; 133 proteins)
To Global Biotic Interactions (GloBI)
To IUCN Red List (Vulnerable)
To NMNH Extant Collection (Mola mola P11071 illustration)
To PESI
To PESI (from synonym Orthagoriscus mola)
To PESI (from synonym Orthragoriscus mola (Linnaeus, 1758))
To ITIS
Marine Life Information Network - UK
To Barcode of Life (23 barcodes)
To Biodiversity Heritage Library (249 publications)
To Biodiversity Heritage Library (35 publications) (from synonym Orthragoriscus mola (Linnaeus, 1758))
To Biodiversity Heritage Library (514 publications) (from synonym Orthagoriscus mola)
To Biological Information System for Marine Life (BISMaL)
To Dyntaxa
To European Nucleotide Archive, ENA (Mola mola)
To FishBase
To FishBase (from synonym Orthragoriscus mola (Linnaeus, 1758))
To Fishipedia
To FishSounds
To GenBank (57521 nucleotides; 133 proteins)
To Global Biotic Interactions (GloBI)
To IUCN Red List (Vulnerable)
To NMNH Extant Collection (Mola mola P11071 illustration)
To PESI
To PESI (from synonym Orthagoriscus mola)
To PESI (from synonym Orthragoriscus mola (Linnaeus, 1758))
To ITIS
Unreviewed
Hosted externally
