Mola tecta
| Mola tecta | |
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| Species: | M. tecta
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| Binomial name | |
| Mola tecta (Nyegaard, 2017)
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Mola tecta, also known commonly as the hoodwinker sunfish 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.
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.[2]
Distribution
To date this fish been found in waters around New Zealand, around the waters of southeast of Australia, off southern Chile and Africa.[2]
Diet
This species preys on salps.[1]
References
- ^ a b "New Giant Ocean Sunfish Species Discovered". News Hub. New Zealand. July 2017.
- ^ a b Lang, Hannah (July 2017). "Massive Two-Ton Fish Species Discovered". National Geographic.
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.
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