Mola mola

angolThe scaleless body is covered with extremely thick, elastic skin. The caudal fin is replaced by a rudder-like structure called 'clavus'. Dorsal and anal fins very high with short base; in swimming, these fins are flapped synchronously from side to side and can propel the fish at surprisingly good speed. Pectorals small and rounded, directed upward (Ref. 6885). Mouth very small; teeth fused to form a parrot-like beak. Gills 4, a slit behind the last; gill openings reduced to a small hole at the base of the pectoral fins. Gas bladder absent in adults. Description: Characterized further by deep and oval body, nearly circular, depth 1-1.5 in TL; rough texture of skin; clavus supported by about 12 fin rays, of which 8-9 bear ossicles (Ref. 90102).

• Cephalus pallasianus Shaw, 1804
• Trematopsis willugbei Ranzani, 1839
• Orthagoriscus analis Ayres, 1859
• Orthragoriscus retzii Ranzani, 1839
• Orthragoriscus analis Ayres, 1859
• Orthragoriscus alexandrini Ranzani, 1839
• Cephalus brevis Shaw, 1804
• Mola hispida Nardo, 1827
• Orthragoriscus hispidus Bloch & Schneider, 1801
• Diodon carinatus Mitchill, 1828
• Cephalus ortagoriscus Risso, 1827
• Tetraodon mola Linnaeus, 1758
• Orthragoriscus mola (Linnaeus, 1758)
• Orthragoriscus redi Ranzani, 1839
• Mola aspera Nardo, 1827
• Aledon capensis Castelnau, 1861
• Ozodura orsini Ranzani, 1839
• Mola aculeata Koelreuter, 1766
• Diodon mola Pallas, 1770
• Tympanomium planci Ranzani, 1839
• Pedalion gigas Guilding, 1838
• Aledon storeri Castelnau, 1861
• Orthragoriscus ghini Ranzani, 1839
• Orthragoriscus fasciatus Bloch & Schneider, 1801
• Orthragoriscus lunaris Gronow, 1854
• Diodon nummularis Walbaum, 1792
• Mola rotunda Cuvier, 1797
• Molacanthus pallasii Swainson, 1839
• Orthragoriscus elegans Ranzani, 1839
• Orthragus luna Rafinesque, 1810
• Orthragoriscus blochii Ranzani, 1839
• Diplanchias nasus Rafinesque, 1810
• Orthragoriscus rondeletii Ranzani, 1839