Nyegaard et al 2018 published a report on the sunfishes of the South Western Pacific and Oceania findings that Mola alexandrini, Mola tecta and Masturus lanceolatus are the dominant sunfish species in those waters—not Mola mola. Read more here
Tireless mola taxonomist, Dr. Etsuro Sawaii, from Hiroshima University and his team from Japan have renamed Mola ramsayi to be Mola alexandrini and this renaming makes the world heaviest molidae not a Mola mola but instead a Mola alexandrini. For details see: Etsuro Sawai et al, Redescription of the bump-head sunfish Mola alexandrini (Ranzani 1839), senior synonym of Mola ramsayi (Giglioli 1883), with designation of a neotype for Mola mola (Linnaeus 1758) (Tetraodontiformes: Molidae), Ichthyological Research (2017). DOI: 10.1007/s10228-017-0603-6 Read more
Nyegaard et al. 2017 added another species from the southern hemisphere into the mola mix. Meet the magnificent Mola tecta. Read more
Phillips et al. 2017 used thousands of sightings including thousands collected on this website by you dear readers (wooohooo!!) to compile a global view of ocean sunfish distribution patterns. Read more
Never a dull moment when it comes to these amazing behemoths with no tail but a tale to tell. So much more than a pretty face.