Researchers Reveal the Ocean Sunfish's Secret

Japanese researchers have revealed why the mola mola likes to 'sunbathe'

A team of scientists led by Itsumi Nakamura of the University of Tokyo, Japan has found the first evidence of the large bony fish feeding on siphonophores, a type of hydozoan found in waters as deep as 200m. It was previously believed that they solely feed on jellyfish in shallower waters. 

The research team caught several mola mola's and equipped them with a thermometre, a light and a camera to collect data. The research suggests that the ocean sunfish comes to the surface to warm up its body after a deep foraging hunt, in the same way as some species of whales do.  

Larger specimen can therefore go on longer hunt as they retain their body heat for longer.