Series Plectognathi 635 
The Head-fishes: Molide.—The head-fishes, or Molide, 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. 532.—Headfish (adult), Mola mola (Linnzus). Virginia. 
circular, having been compared by Linnzus 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 
