Basking may be a thermoregulation behavior. It is not necessarily a sign that the mola is sick or injured as has been reported elsewhere.
Ocean sunfish, basking at surface, viewed from underwater, open ocean. San Diego, California, USA
Species: Ocean sunfish, Mola mola
Location: San Diego, California
Image ID: 03311
Format: Film 2:3
Ocean sunfish, basking at surface, viewed from underwater, open ocean. San Diego, California, USA
Species: Ocean sunfish, Mola mola
Location: San Diego, California
Image ID: 03311
Format: Film 2:3
Keywords: actinopterygii, animal, animalia, california, california baja california, chordata, creature, fish, indo-pacific, manbow, marine, marine fish, mola, mola mola, molidae, mondfisch, moonfish, nature, ocean, ocean sunfish, ocean sunfish - mola mola, odd, outdoors, outside, pacific, pacific ocean, pelagic, pesce luna, pez luna, san diego, sea, strange, submarine, sunfish, teleost fish, tetraodontiformes, underwater, usa, vertebrata, wild, wildlife
Categories:
- Animal > Fish > Marine Fish > Indo-Pacific > California / Baja California
- Animal > Fish > Marine Fish > Ocean Sunfish - Mola mola
- Subject > Technique > Underwater
Copyright ©Phillip Colla, all rights reserved worldwide.
This professional quality stock photo can be licensed in high resolution form by contacting the photographer: Phillip Colla, photos@oceanlight.com, (760) 707-7153, more info and photographer bio.