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Sunfish, Mola mola
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Sunfish, Mola mola
Sunfish, Mola mola (Short sun fish, Cephalus brevis). Illustration drawn and engraved by Richard Polydore Nodder. Handcoloured copperplate engraving from George Shaw and Frederick Nodders The Naturalists Miscellany, London, 1806
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Media ID 23195792
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Cephalus Frederick Ichthyology Miscellany Mola Naturalists Nodder Polydore Shaw Sunfish Brevis Short
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This exquisite hand-colored copperplate engraving depicts the enigmatic Sunfish, Mola mola, also known as the Ocean Sunfish or Common Sunfish. The illustration was drawn and engraved by the skilled hand of Richard Polydore Nodder and published in George Shaw and Frederick Nodder's The Naturalist's Miscellany in London, 1806. The Sunfish is the largest of the bony fish, with some individuals reaching up to 3.3 meters (10.8 feet) in length and weighing over 1,000 kilograms (2,200 pounds). Despite its impressive size, the Sunfish has a unique and rather unassuming appearance. Its body is flattened and disc-shaped, with a broad back and a short, deep-set dorsal fin. The fish is covered in large, overlapping scales, which give it a rough texture. Its coloration varies from dark brown to light yellow, with irregular white spots and stripes. The Sunfish is a pelagic fish, meaning it lives in the open ocean. It feeds primarily on jellyfish and other soft-bodied organisms, which it crushes with its heavy, flat head. The Sunfish is also known for its unusual reproductive behavior. Females lay their eggs in the water, which then develop into free-swimming larvae. These larvae eventually metamorphose into juveniles and begin their life as typical fish. Despite being a large and intriguing species, the Sunfish was not well-known to Europeans until the late 18th and early 19th centuries, when explorers and naturalists began to venture further into the open ocean. This beautiful illustration by Richard Polydore Nodder captures the Sunfish's unique features and provides a glimpse into the natural history of this fascinating fish.
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