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DESCRIPTION: The ocean sunfish is one of the heaviest bony fish in the world. The average of an adult is 1000 pounds. The length of its body can be up to 6 feet with the height of dorsal fin to ventral fin up to 8 feet. While they are descended from bony fish, they are mostly cartilaginous. This allows them to grow much larger than other fish. The spinal cord contains fewer vertebrae and is shorter than other fish. The sunfish also lacks a swim bladder. Its body is flattened laterally and resembles a fish head and tail. The tail is not a generic caudal fin but rather an evolution of the dorsal fin and anal fin fusing together. The body is usually varying shades and white and grey with the dorsal side being darker. The sunfish has the ability to change the skin coloration when stressed or under attack. |
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RANGE/HABITAT: Sunfish like temperate and tropical waters of 50°F or more. They are present in both the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. There are some differences between each ocean but not between hemispheres. |
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BEHAVIOR: Sunfish swim at various levels and spend most of their lives submerged. When they do come up to the surface, they spend time on their sides using the suns heat to recharge. They are usually seen alone but will sometimes travel in packs to cleaning areas where they find other fish to help rid them of parasites. Sunfish feed at the various levels that they swim at. Their prey consists of jellyfish, eel grass, small fish, and crustaceans. They uses there mouths to suck in water and the food and then push the water back out. They have four teeth in their mouths that are used like a beak to break up harder organisms and other teeth located in the throat that are used to grind the food into smaller pieces. Because of their size, sunfish are no seen as prey to many species aside from tuna, orcas, and sharks. Sea lions will maim a sunfish but leave it to die. |
| MATING/BREEDING:Sunfish appear to reproduce in whichever ocean they are currently residing. Female sunfish can produce up to 300 million eggs. These eggs are released into the water and externally fertilized by sperm. The eggs become fry and multiply in size rapidly. The sunfish stay in schools to protect themselves from predators. Once they are large enough, they isolate themselves. STATUS: The number of sunfish is unknown but the numbers appear to be decreasing due to the by-catch of commercial fisherman and to the increased popularity of sunfish as a food. Boating incidents can be harmful to the sunfish or damaging to the boat depending on the size of the fish. One other harm would be plastic bags in the ocean. The sunfish sees these as jellyfish and tries to eat them. The bag can become stuck in their throats or their stomachs which can prevent them from eating. |
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For Reservations Call: |
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(949) 675-0551 |
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Newport Beach Whale Watching 309 Palm St. #A - Newport Beach CA. 92661 |
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