Quick answer
Key facts about ocean sunfish — size, diet, habitat, and conservation in one place.
Bizarre anatomy
The body is a giant disc with fused vertebrae — no true tail fin. Dorsal and anal fins extend like paddles; mouth stays permanently small for jellyfish diet.
Surface basking
Sunfish lie sideways at the surface warming after cold deep dives hunting jellyfish. Seabirds pick parasites from skin — mutual cleaning.
Parasite burden
Sunfish carry heavy parasite loads — up to 40 species documented. Leaping behaviour may dislodge parasites.
Bycatch threat
Vulnerable from drift net and longline bycatch — slow growth and low reproduction limit recovery.