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I’ve encountered a couple of these Sunfish (“Mola mola”) in the wild off the coast of Southern California. They’re absolutely incredible to see in person and ma

I’ve encountered a couple of these Sunfish (“Mola mola”) in the wild off the coast of Southern California. They’re absolutely incredible to see in person and massive! While it seemed to enjoy our presence we made sure not to get too close or they might mistake your boat for a rock and try to flop on board, which is the only way they’ve ever killed a human. I’ve read they move to warmer waters as they age and the ones I saw were “only” around 800-1200 pounds. The ones around Indonesia can be 3000 pounds or more. Fascinating creature.

sandworm101 2y ago
Also, they famously carry a huge number of parasites. This just seems normal for the species, similar to how sloth fur supports a variety of organisms.
- thaumasiotes 2y ago
  It's normal for all species, humans included. We generally aren't carrying large loads of parasites, but that's not because not doing so is normal. It's because we put tremendous effort into getting rid of them. This is one of the theories for why human body temperature seems to have lowered since the measurement was standardized at 37 C. There was a poem written about the phenomenon: Big fleas have little fleas upon their backs to bite 'em And little fleas have lesser fleas and so ad infinitum
  - DFHippie 2y ago
    The version I recall has "upon their knees to bite 'em". Maybe my juvenile brain made up that internal rhyme the better to remember it.
  - dang 2y ago
    Written by de Morgan of de Morgan's Laws! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siphonaptera_(poem) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siphonaptera_(poem) But he lifted the genius part of it from Jonathan Swift.
  - sandworm101 2y ago
    But there is also a scientific measurement if parasite load. Not all species carry an equal amount.
  - ahazred8ta 2y ago
    Turbulence: Great whirls have lesser whirls, that feed on their velocity / and lesser whirls have lesser still, and so on to viscosity.
londons_explore 2y ago
The ones I've seen get scared pretty easily, and when scared will rocket off awfully fast.

sandworm101 2y ago

Also, they famously carry a huge number of parasites. This just seems normal for the species, similar to how sloth fur supports a variety of organisms.

thaumasiotes 2y ago
It's normal for all species, humans included. We generally aren't carrying large loads of parasites, but that's not because not doing so is normal. It's because we put tremendous effort into getting rid of them. This is one of the theories for why human body temperature seems to have lowered since the measurement was standardized at 37 C. There was a poem written about the phenomenon: Big fleas have little fleas upon their backs to bite 'em And little fleas have lesser fleas and so ad infinitum
- DFHippie 2y ago
  The version I recall has "upon their knees to bite 'em". Maybe my juvenile brain made up that internal rhyme the better to remember it.
- dang 2y ago
  Written by de Morgan of de Morgan's Laws! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siphonaptera_(poem) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siphonaptera_(poem) But he lifted the genius part of it from Jonathan Swift.
- sandworm101 2y ago
  But there is also a scientific measurement if parasite load. Not all species carry an equal amount.
- ahazred8ta 2y ago
  Turbulence: Great whirls have lesser whirls, that feed on their velocity / and lesser whirls have lesser still, and so on to viscosity.

londons_explore 2y ago

The ones I've seen get scared pretty easily, and when scared will rocket off awfully fast.