424 



Series Plectognathi 



The Head-fishes: Molidae. The head-fishes, or Molidcs, also 

 called sunfishes, have the body abbreviated behind so that the 

 dorsal, anal, and caudal seem to be attached to the posterior 

 outline of the head. This feature, constituting the so-called 

 gephyrocercal tail is a trait of specialized degradation. 



Mola mola, the common head-fish or sunfish, is found occa- 

 sionally in all tropical and temperate seas. Its form is almost 



FIG. 363. Headfish (adult), Mola mola (Linnaeus). Virginia. 



circular, having been compared by Linnaeus to a mill-wheel 

 (mola), and its surface is covered with a rough, leathery skin. 

 It swims very lazily at the surface of the water, its high dorsal 

 often rising above the surface. It is rarely used as food, though 

 not known to be poisonous. The largest example known to the 

 writer was taken at Redondo Beach, California, by Mr. Thomas 

 Shooter, of Los Angeles. This specimen was 8 feet 2 inches in 



