ocean sunfish

American  

noun

1. a brown and gray mola, Mola mola, inhabiting tropical and temperate seas, having the posterior half of the body sharply truncated behind the elongated dorsal and anal fins.

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Etymology

Origin of ocean sunfish

First recorded in 1620–30

Example Sentences

Other winners of a slimy new epoch would be ocean sunfish, a giant bony fish whose individuals can clock in at more than 2,000 pounds and consume jellyfish — and velella — in mass quantities.

From Los Angeles Times • May 3, 2024

“The ocean sunfish will actually kind of put their heads out of the water as they eat these. It resembles Pac-Man eating pellets,” he said.

From Los Angeles Times • May 3, 2024

And if you like weird and appealing, the Mola mola, or ocean sunfish, makes a similar appearance.

From New York Times • Mar. 22, 2018

While humans win the fewest-children-at-a-time-with-longest-period-of-care contest, the ocean sunfish comes out at the other end, tops in the who-cares-let-them-sort-it-out-themselves sweepstakes.

From New York Times • Apr. 2, 2015

In the Hobart race, slow-moving ocean sunfish, with an average adult weight of about 2,200 pounds, are another problem.

From New York Times • Dec. 23, 2014