Rare Ocean Sunfish to be placed in Fish World
Iloilo City -- The Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center (Seafdec) could not yet ascertain the cause of death of the Southern Ocean Sunfish found in Parola last week. The center classified its specie as Mola Ramsayi.
Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) regional director Sonia Seville said Seafdec scientists have yet to deal on the cause of death of the Southern Ocean Sunfish. However, she said, they have found lots of worms on the pectoral fin of the Ocean Sunfish.
Seville clarified that the Southern Ocean Sunfish is of Mola Ramsayi specie and not Mola mola. There are four species of sunfish, the Southern Ocean Sunfish or (Mola Ramsayi), Ocean Sunfish (Mola-Mola), Slender Sunfish (Ranzania laevis) and Point-tailed Sunfish (Masturus lanceolatus). Earlier, the bureau said it is Mola mola.
Seville said scientists could not say yet if the presence of worms on the Southern Ocean Sunfish caused its death. The scientists have to open its body to get some tissues from the fish to objectively determine the cause of its death. The Ocean Sunfish has no injury when found by pump boat crews.
She, however suspects that perhaps the environment contributed to the death of the Southern Ocean Sunfish. Just like us we have to adjust to the kind of environment we live. It is much cooler in the bottom and Iloilo River has already a tint of pollution, said Seville.
The Southern Ocean Fish is usually found in oceanic waters but occasionally inshore. It is a deep bodied specie with high dorsal and anal fins placed posteriorly on the body. It has small mouth with teeth infused into a parrot-like beak. The skin is leathery with rough denticles. The fish is brown to gray above often with pale blotches and paler below.
Seville also clarified that the Ocean Sunfish weighs 500 kilos and not 200 kilos as earlier reported.
It is also 2.2 meters long. The sunfish was so heavy that even four men could not carry it on the higher ground. Its age and sex are yet to be determined.
The regional director said they hope to receive the center's full laboratory report this week. Meantime, the Southern Ocean Sunfish will be preserved and placed in the Fish World inside Seafdec in Tigbauan, Iloilo.