Sunfish Clare Island

The ocean sunfish (Mola mola) is one of the two heaviest known bony fishes in the world, the other being the southern sunfish of the same genus. Adults typically weigh between 247 and 1,000 kg. The species is native to tropical and temperate waters around the world. Sunfish can weigh up to 2.5 tons and, classified as vulnerable they can be seen off the west coast of Ireland. Sunfish, or mola, develop their truncated, bullet-like shape because the back fin which they are born with simply never grows. Instead, it folds into itself as the enormous creature matures, creating a rounded rudder called a clavus. Mola in Latin means "millstone" and describes the ocean sunfish’s somewhat circular shape. They are a silvery color and have a rough skin texture.