Described as "stray visitors to the gulf" by Bigelow and Schroeder, the Mola mola, or ocean sunfish, is a large fish readily noticed by it's floppy dorsal fin when at the surface. They generally move pretty slowly, although I'm told (Bigelow and Schroeder, and personal communication with others) that they can really move when they want to. We came across one on day 5 of the cruise, in the vicinity of Jordan's basin. They like to eat Ctenophores and other jellies.
Top view of the mola as it approached the boat:
You can see in the pictures below, how it moves it's dorsal and anal fins to swim:
Top view of the mola as it approached the boat:
You can see in the pictures below, how it moves it's dorsal and anal fins to swim:
(in photo above: dorsal fin extended, anal fin pointing towards the camera)
(in this picture, the dorsal fin is at the surface bent toward us, and the anal fin is extended downward)
(in this picture, the dorsal fin is at the surface bent toward us, and the anal fin is extended downward)
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