On-going fossil work coupled with genetic sleuthing is slowly revealing the evolutionary history of the magnificent Molidae. Fossil jaw parts of the genus Eomola suggest this family descended from coral reef fishes sometime in the late Eocene–roughly 55 million years ago (Tyler and Bannikov, 1992). Since their first appearance, sunfish have spread into every tropical and temperate ocean.

While the Molidae may appear primitive, they are in fact relative latecomers to the fish world. Fishes first emerged over 500 million years ago and the radiation leading to most modern fishes occurred about 100 million years ago. It took another 50 million years for Molidae to appear. In fact, molas are thought to be one of the most derived fish groups in the sea.

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Molas occupy the same order (Tetraodontiformes) as do the puffers and porcupine fishes. The name Tetraodontiformes refers to the four fused teeth that comprise their characteristic beak. While their inflatable relatives can defend themselves by sucking in water and puffing up, molas suck and spit water primarily as a means of manipulating prey items into manageable pieces. Long claw like teeth in their throat help this process.

LATEST RESEARCH

NEW Evolutionary divergence among lineages of the ocean sunfish family, Molidae (Tetraodontiformes) PDF