Molidae

Molidae is a family of fish commonly known as sunfish or molas. They are widespread on many ocean planets and labyrinth seas, and have a distinctly unique body plan.

Taxonomy

Molids are in the order Tetraodontiformes, alongside pufferfish, filefish, triggerfish, boxfish, and others.

Anatomy

Trench Sunfish by Mochi

Molids have very few vertebrae in comparison to other fish species, with just sixteen in the ocean sunfish, Mola mola, and fourteen in the trench sunfish, Xanthaingens ocolus.

Molids have a circular body plan, with a large anal and dorsal fin. They lack pelvic and caudal fins as adults, losing them as they grow.

Their thick skin sits atop a gelatinous layer, made mostly of water, which acts as a sort of exoskeleton for the fish. This also aids in buoyancy.

Across the galaxies molids come in many different colours. They are typically white, grey, or black, though some species, like the crested sunfish, are more vibrant. Many exhibit striking patterns to ward off predators. A handful are even poisonous, like the billow gaspod sunfish, native to the Latica Ocean on Norrab.

Genetic Descendants

• Crested Sunfish
• Trench Sunfish

Geographic Distribution

• Amelaqua
• Dave
• Earth
• Emycelium
• Glassy Trench
• Hothiri
• Kyrophis
• Latica Ocean
• Mars
• Norrab
• Ocearia
• Otonan
• Venus
• Xiskin

Scientific Classification
Kingdom - Animalia
Phylum - Chordata
Class - Actinopterygii
Order - Tetraodontiformes
Family - Molidae
Type Species
Ocean Sunfish - Mola mola