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Fish?
Nov 12, 2004 8:05:02 GMT -5
Post by hmillbrander on Nov 12, 2004 8:05:02 GMT -5
I just returned from my vacation and need some help!During one dive we saw a Fish(?), it was about 6ft in diameter, kind of round shaped and had no visible fins, kind of greyish colored. I never saw anything like that before. Is there anybody here, who might know what that was?
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Fish?
Nov 12, 2004 8:18:00 GMT -5
Post by LSDeep on Nov 12, 2004 8:18:00 GMT -5
did it look like this? ;D then it is a ocean sunfish. but it has fins
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steve75
Barracuda
Incompetents invariably make trouble for people other than themselves
Posts: 89
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Fish?
Nov 12, 2004 8:37:15 GMT -5
Post by steve75 on Nov 12, 2004 8:37:15 GMT -5
Wow, that looks weird. Where do you find them?
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Fish?
Nov 12, 2004 8:56:10 GMT -5
Post by Sharki on Nov 12, 2004 8:56:10 GMT -5
out of a swiss homepage: Mondfische sind in allen tropischen und gemäßigten Meeren beheimatet und bevorzugen die offene See. Man nimmt an, dass sie in einer Tiefe bis zu 1000 Metern leben, normalerweise jedoch so um die 300m Tiefe. In einigen Gegenden nimmt sein Bestand allerdings stetig ab, denn er landet als Beifang in den grossen Driftnetzen der Fischer. ok, try to translate as good as possible for all the non german speakers! ;D The sun fish is domiciled in all tropic and temperated oceans. They prefer the open sea and it is generelly agreed, that they life in a depth up to 1000m. Most of the times thy life around 300m of depth. In some regions the population is fallen because they get unmeant caught it fishermans net. Hope it is not to abstruse... More Info?
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Fish?
Nov 12, 2004 10:45:20 GMT -5
Post by LSDeep on Nov 12, 2004 10:45:20 GMT -5
funny that it is a sunfish in english and a moonfish in german. must be because you germans are shady types living in the dark ages ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
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Fish?
Nov 12, 2004 12:10:20 GMT -5
Post by Sharki on Nov 12, 2004 12:10:20 GMT -5
Man am I lucky to be Swiss!!!! ...like in all things, we are the exception!!! ;D
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Fish?
Nov 12, 2004 12:55:31 GMT -5
Post by hmillbrander on Nov 12, 2004 12:55:31 GMT -5
That looks very much like it. And it was big, bigger then I. I don´t remember the fins, but i guess it must have them.
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Fish?
Nov 12, 2004 13:09:07 GMT -5
Post by tekmac on Nov 12, 2004 13:09:07 GMT -5
The ocean sunfish (Mola mola) is the world’s largest known bony fish (sharks and rays are cartilaginous, not bony). At least one estimate over 3000 lb. has been recorded and individuals reaching 11 ft. (3 m.) from fin tip to fin tip have been seen. It is found in all oceans in tropical and temperate climes, and is known to eat gelatinous zooplankton (jellyfish) and probably small fishes and algae. In the eastern Pacific, Mola mola is normally found from British Columbia to South America, although in El Nino events it has been recorded as far north as Alaska. Ocean sunfish schooling near drift kelp, soliciting cleaner fishes. Do molas gather and socialize? It appears so. 2002 presented us with many large schools of molas, gathered to be cleaned and . Long dorsal and anal fins are the mola’s principal source of locomotion -- they are flapped from side to side. The caudal fin of the ocean sunfish is quite short and acts like a rudder. Molas are often covered with small parasites, and will approach drift kelp and other flotsam to recruit small fish (which hide in and below the kelp) to remove these parasites. The business end of a mola: a mouth well suited for slurping gelatinous zooplankton, a principal food source for molas. Molas are often seen basking flat on the ocean surface, nearly motionless. This may be a thermoregulation behavior; it is not necessarily a indication that the mola is sick or injured as has been reported elsewhere. The mola’s gill slit is covered by an operculum and is positioned just in front of the small pectoral fin. Molas range in color from dark gray to white, with many variations in mottling and spots. Juvenile molas may appear “shiny”. When molas are swimming at the surface it is common for their fins to be mistaken for those of sharks. Molas can be quite inquisitive of divers. Molas are sometimes observed breaching the ocean surface and landing with a splash, perhaps attempting to dislodge parasites. Ocean sunfish are occasionally mauled by California sea lions, especially near the Monterey Peninsula, reportedly because the sea lions eat the mola’s internal organs and perhaps just for “sport.” The nearest relative to Mola mola is Ranzania laevis, the slender mola. Found in the tropical and subtropical Pacific, Ranzania is rarely seen north of Mexico. Up to 2 feet (.6m) in size, its aspect ratio is “longer” than is the nearly circular Mola mola. Neither species of mola is to be confused with the tiny, freshwater “sunfish”, a completely different animal.
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san
Puffer
Dive ever - work never!
Posts: 34
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Fish?
Nov 15, 2004 3:25:24 GMT -5
Post by san on Nov 15, 2004 3:25:24 GMT -5
And a taste of the Mediterranean sea We have Mola mola even here. In the Med. is a rare fish also seen on the surface. As it is slow is easy to catch but they say that is not good for eat. And yes, it's very interesting that the english name is sunfish, german Mondfisch, but even italian Pesce luna (luna is moon), spain Pez luna etc. So it seem that the english name is deferent from the others and not vice-versa ;D ;D I never saw this fish in my life, only a big conserved one on the acquarium wall in Rovinj, Croatia.
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san
Puffer
Dive ever - work never!
Posts: 34
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Fish?
Nov 15, 2004 3:30:31 GMT -5
Post by san on Nov 15, 2004 3:30:31 GMT -5
And yes, I forget that a lot of other countries don't associate the name of the fish with moon or sun! for example: bucanj or mole! ;D
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Fish?
Nov 22, 2004 19:10:13 GMT -5
Post by scubadaddy on Nov 22, 2004 19:10:13 GMT -5
this fish can also be found in the waters Bali. Especially in September, almost on daily basis. The rest of the year with good luck.
since i am moving there i let you know as soon as i meet them!
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Fish?
Nov 23, 2004 10:57:53 GMT -5
Post by manta on Nov 23, 2004 10:57:53 GMT -5
September...Bali...hmm....I might just have to save my pennies for that - Sept is probably the slowest month here in the VIs - who wants to walk into the middle of hurricane?
Bwahahah - Bali sounds wonderful!
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