Masturus Research Articles

New northerly limit for the sharptail mola in the northeast Atlantic: first sighting of Masturus lanceolatus in the northeast Irish Sea.

The ocean sunfishes are currently represented by five species within three genera: Mola mola (Linnaeus, 1758), Mola alexandrini (Ranzani, 1839), Mola tecta (Nyegaard, Sawai, Gemmell, Gillum, Loneragan, Yamanoue & Stewart, 2017) (Sawai et al., 2018), Masturus lanceolatus (Lienard, 1840), and Ranzania laevis (Pennant, 1776). Growing conservation concerns have led to an ongoing re-examination of their classification status on the International Union for the Conservation of Nature Red Lists, a process requiring the latest data to best support their conservation management on a global scale. Here we report the first sighting of Masturus lanceolatus in the northeast Irish Sea, representing a new northerly range limit for this species in the northeast Atlantic. The species is more commonly reported in tropical seas, and in the Western Atlantic they occur from North Carolina in the United States to southeast Brazil. This sighting increases the most northerly range limit by 2610 km, providing additional insight into the ecology and potentially changing distribution of this generally considered tropical megafaunal species.

The ocean sunfishes (family Molidea): Recommendations from the IUCN molidae review panel

The ocean sunfishes (family Molidae) include the largest and heaviest bony fishes in the world and species within the family are distributed from southern Chile to the Arctic Circle. The Molidae currently contains five species within three genera: Mola mola (Linnaeus, 1758), Mola alexandrini (Ranzani, 1839), Mola tecta (Nyegaard et al., 2017), Masturus lanceolatus (Liénard, 1840) and Ranzania laevis (Pennant, 1776). Recent conservation concerns led to a re-examination of the IUCN Red List classifications, where three species had previously ranged from Least Concern to Vulnerable, and two species had yet to be assessed. To better support conservation of these fishes on a global scale, the IUCN Molidae review panel was formed to update these listings. This panel, supported by experts from the IUCN Red List assessment process, included participants from the UK, Portugal, Taiwan, New Zealand, Japan and USA. The central objective was to consolidate recent research and policy expertise and assess urgent conservation issues facing the ocean sunfishes. A summary is presented here alongside key recommendations.

First records of orca, Orcinus orca (Linnaeus, 1758) (Mammalia Cetacea), predation on sharptail ocean sunfish, Masturus lanceolatus (É. Liénard, 1840) (Pisces Molidae), with novel components of foraging behaviour discovered through social media

First records of orca, Orcinus orca (Linnaeus, 1758) (Mammalia Cetacea), predation on sharptail ocean sunfish, Masturus lanceolatus (É. Liénard, 1840) (Pisces Molidae), with novel components of foraging behaviour discovered through social media

Ontogenetic and seasonal shifts in diets of sharptail mola Masturus lanceolatus in waters off Taiwan

Sharptail mola Masturus lanceolatus share a circumglobal distribution with ocean sunfish Mola mola and are typically regarded as gelatinous plankton feeders. Both species are frequently captured as bycatch in the same areas, but sharptail mola are often targeted and heavily harvested in certain regions. However, the diet of sharptail mola remains poorly described. We examined the foraging habits and trophic dynamics of sharptail mola from waters off eastern Taiwan using stomach content analysis (SCA; n = 162), bulk tissue stable isotope analysis (SIA; n = 213), and compound-specific isotope analysis of amino acids (CSIA-AA; n = 10). Results demonstrated that sharptail mola mainly consumed tunicates, with lower dietary proportions of diverse prey from epi- and mesopelagic, coastal, and benthic habitats. The diet of sharptail mola changed significantly with size; small mola (<80 cm) had lower δ15N and δ13C values and fed on more pteropods and Salpidae, while large mola (>80 cm) fed on more Pyrosoma spp., cephalopods, and benthic organisms living on sandy substrates, with larger individuals having correspondingly higher isotope values and trophic positions. Diet compositions and δ13C values also showed seasonal variations across body size, suggesting that sharptail mola might undergo seasonal migrations with changing availability of food resources. The results provide insights into the trophic dynamics of sharptail mola and suggest that their foraging behavior varies across life-history stages and seasons.

Species re-identification based on photographs of Ocean sunfishes (Family Molidae) from Philippine waters, including reconfirmation of Mola alexandrini

Detailed biological information (e.g. distribution, size, sex) on ocean sunfishes/molids (Molidae) in Philippine waters is lacking. Four species of ocean sunfishes from Philippine waters are known to date: Mola mola (Linnaeus, 1758), Mola alexandrini (Ranzani, 1839), Masturus lanceolatus (Liénard, 1840), and Ranzania laevis (Pennant, 1776). However, in recent years, the taxonomy of Molidae (especially the genus Mola) has progressed at the global level, and it becomes necessary to review species that occur in Philippine waters. In this study, photographs of Molidae from Philippine waters were collected and morphological research involving museum specimens was conducted. The results of species re-identification based on the photographs of 12 specimens of Molidae obtained in this study were as follows: a specimen of M. alexandrini, five specimens of M. mola, and six specimens of Ma. lanceolatus. Although a specimen identified as M. alexandrini in a previous study was here re-identified as M. mola, the occurrence of M. alexandrini in Philippine waters was nevertheless confirmed in this study on the basis of another specimen. Mola alexandrini and Ma. lanceolatus were confused with M. mola locally, suggesting the importance of preserving real specimens, photographs and genetic samples.

Preliminary study on spatio-temporal variations of five giant and 17 large fish species around the Korean peninsula from 2011 to 2016

Although giant and large fish species are highly important as a keystone species in the marine ecosystem, there have been no or few studies on their spatio-temporal variations around the Korean peninsula. For this, we analyzed daily reports made by observers at 57 fishery landing sites in Korea over 6 years, from 2011 to 2016. In total, 153 fish species were re-identified based on photos and descriptions recorded by Korean observers, of which five species were classified as a giant fish over 5 m in maximum total length (MTL) and 17 species as a large fish from 3 m to 5 m MTL according to the data presented by Froese & Pauly (2021). Among the giant and large fish species, Mola mola was the most abundant species, with 75 individuals landed as by-catch. The second most abundant species was Isurus oxyrinchus (31), followed by Mobula mobular (23), Lamna ditropis (17), Masturus lanceolatus (16), Sphyrna zygaena (14), and Prionace glauca (12). As a result of cluster analysis based on the number of individuals of giant and large fish species by year and sea, six years were separated into two clusters (2011–2013 vs. 2014–2016), with high contribution of M. mola, I. oxyrinchus, and M. lanceolatus; and three seas were separated into two clusters (eastern + southern seas vs. western sea), with high contribution of M. lanceolatus, L. ditropis, and I. oxyrinchus. The largest number of M. mola accounted for 64% of the total in 2014 and 2016, and 71% in summer (June–August). It is assumed to have a correlation between seawater temperature fluctuation and the occurrence of giant and large fish species. Our study highlights importance of longterm monitoring of giant and large fish species, and can help to understand the life cycle such as natal or nursery migration of giant and large fish species around the Korean peninsula.

The first photographic records of a live juvenile Masturus lanceolatus in Japanese waters, showing its interaction with squids

The first photographic records of a live juvenile <i>Masturus lanceolatus</i> in Japanese waters, showing its interaction with squids

A morphologically abnormal example (shortened anal fin) of Masturus lanceolatus from Japan and testing its effect on swimming ability by underwater remote control robot

A morphologically abnormal example (shortened anal fin) of <i>Masturus lanceolatus</i> from Japan and testing its effect on swimming ability by underwater remote control robot

Live Coloration and Schooling Behavior of Juvenile Sharptail Mola, Masturus lanceolatus (Tetraodontiformes: Molidae), Off South Florida

We present the first published in-situ photographs of a juvenile Masturus lanceolatus (Sharptail Mola). The photographed individual, about 76 mm TL, was one of 13–15 Sharptail Mola observed schooling together during a blackwater SCUBA dive at night off the coast of Florida near Palm Beach on 25 February 2021. The photographed individual was metallic blue dorsally, fading to a more silver color ventrally, with dark brown spots. The school of Sharptail Mola was 3–9 m below the surface of the water over a bottom depth of 198 m. Individuals were 2–5 body lengths apart and swam rapidly using synchronous side-to-side dorsal and anal fin flexures. We compare the photographed specimen to 2 literature records of juvenile Sharptail Mola from waters off Florida.

Records of Masturus lanceolatus and Mola cf. mola from Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan, based on recently stranding specimen and the Meiji-era literature

Records of <i>Masturus lanceolatus</i> and <i>Mola</i> cf. <i>mola</i> from Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan, based on recently stranding specimen and the Meiji-era literature

Food poisoning caused by sunfish Masturus lanceolatus in Taiwan

Attempts was made to clarify the toxicity and species of causative sunfish fillet concerning with a food poisoning. The frozen causative sunfish fillet was collected to determine its toxicity after two people eating it found poisoned. Tetrodotoxin (TTX) was not detected, however, the butanol extract of remained causative muscle showed ichthyotoxicity to gold carp and caused human, rat and tilapia red blood cells haemolysis. Patients and rats showed some symptoms similar to those caused by palytoxin. Hence, it is possible that this food poisoning is caused by a palytoxin-like compound. Moreover, fish species of the sunfish fillet was identified by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). A PCR primer set (L14735/H15149) was used to amplify the partial fragment of the cytochrome b gene. Endonucleases Stu I was used in RFLP. The species of the causative sample was identified as Masturus lamceolatus.

First record of a stranded specimen of the sharptail mola, Masturus lanceolatus (Actinopterygii: Tetraodontiformes: Molidae), from the central coast of Peru

The Molidae are a widely distributed family, but they are rarely encountered and their distribution and abundance have poorly been documented. A stranded specimen of the sharptail mola, Masturus lanceolatus (Lienard, 1840), has recently been recorded on a Pacific beach in Peru. We examined, measured and photographed the specimen. It is very likely that the presently reported sharptail mola was originally captured by a Peruvian purse seiner or longliner and later discarded as a useless bycatch.

First and northernmost records of Masturus lanceolatus (Molidae) based on photographs from Aomori Prefecture, northern Japan

First and northernmost records of <i>Masturus lanceolatus</i> (Molidae) based on photographs from Aomori Prefecture, northern Japan

Spatiotemporal segregation of ocean sunfish species (Molidae) in the eastern North Pacific

Ocean sunfishes or molas (Molidae) are difficult to study as a result of their extensive movements and low densities in remote waters. In particular, little is known of the environmental niche separation and differences in the reproductive or movement ecology of molids in sympatry. We investigated spatiotemporal dynamics in the distribution of the common mola Mola mola, sharptail mola Masturus lanceolatus, and slender mola Ranzania laevis in the eastern North Pacific. We used observer data from a commercial fishery consisting of 85000+ longline sets spanning 24 yr, &gt;50° in longitude, and &gt;45° in latitude. Satellite altimetry analysis, species distribution modeling, and multivariate ordination revealed thermal niche separation, spatiotemporal segregation, and distinct community associations of the 3 molid species. Our quantitative findings suggest that the common mola is a more temperate species, while slender and sharptail mola are more (sub)tropical species, and that slender (and possibly also sharptail) mola undergo spawning migrations to the region around the Hawaiian Islands. In addition, we identified potential effects of fishing gear type on molid catch probability, an increasing trend in catch probability of a vulnerable species perhaps related to a shift in the distribution of fishing effort, and the possible presence in the fishery of a fourth molid species being misidentified as a congener, all of which are important conservation considerations for these enigmatic fishes.

Larval distribution of the ocean sunfishes Ranzania laevis and Masturus lanceolatus (Tetraodontiformes: Molidae) in the Sargasso Sea subtropical convergence zone

Abstract Sunfishes or Molidae are a rarely encountered family within the teleost order Tetraodontiformes and most details of their reproductive biology including times and places of spawning and their larval ecology are rather unclear. Spawning of two species of Molidae was suggested in the Sargasso Sea before, yet comprehensive data on larval distribution from this area or elsewhere have never been published. Here we report on the abundance and size distribution of 383 sharptail mola (Masturus lanceolatus) and slender sunfish (Ranzania laevis) larvae, present novel information on their larval growth and development and test correlations with prevailing hydrographic data. Only 18 mostly larger Masturus larvae were caught evenly distributed over the study area and with no obvious hydrographic preferences. We conclude that there was no active spawning of M. lanceolatus in the area during the time of the cruise. In contrast, Ranzania larvae were caught primarily inside and south of a thermal frontal zone with increasing abundances toward warmer surface layers in the southeast of the study area. Due to the consistent presence of young Ranzania, it can be assumed that spawning activity was ongoing throughout the month of April, 2015. Our findings confirm the Sargasso Sea as a spawning area for R. laevis.

A rare river stranding record of sharptail sunfish Masturus lanceolatus in Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan

A rare river stranding record of sharptail sunfish Masturus lanceolatus in Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan

Giant jelly eaters on the line: Species distribution and bycatch of three dominant sunfishes in the Southwest Pacific

The ocean sunfishes have a long and confusing taxonomic legacy, clouding the global zoogeography of each species and hindering fisheries bycatch assessments. The traditional view of Mola mola as the most common sunfish species worldwide is challenged by our findings from Australia and New Zealand, revealing that three large sunfishes, Masturus lanceolatus, Mola alexandrini and Mola tecta, dominate the tropical/subtropical, warm-temperate and cold-temperate waters here, respectively, while Mola mola – both Pacific and Atlantic clades – is relatively rare. These findings were based on phylogenetic (mtDNA D-loop) and/or morphological species identification of sunfish from longline bycatches (n = 106), natural history museum collections (n = 45) and other sources (n = 12), informed by recent advances in the taxonomy of the genus Mola. Furthermore, separation in species distributions were seen when comparing sampling latitude and sea surface temperature. The findings imply that the longline fisheries observer sunfish data from Australia and New Zealand is a mix of species, and not dominated by M. mola as previously assumed. Mean catch per unit Effort (2001–13) in 1° latitude/longitude grids off Pacific Australia and New Zealand were predominantly < 1 sunfish.1000 hooks−1 (up to 6.5 in some areas) with no statistical significant upwards or downwards trends detected over time in four fishing ground subareas, each presumably dominated by either Masturus lanceolatus, Mola alexandrini or Mola tecta. Widespread specimen identification errors had previously obscured a more complex Molidae zoogeography in the area, highlighting that phylogenetic analyses of sunfish bycatch globally would benefit species-level conservation status evaluations.

An occurrence of the rare Sharptail Mola Masturus lanceolatus (Lienard, 1840) (Tetraodontiformes: Molidae), in the coastal waters of Visakhapatnam, India

A single specimen of the Sharptail Mola Masturus lanceolatus (Lienard, 1840) (total length 1.39m) was collected from a commercial trawler operated from Visakhapatnam at a depth range of 150–300 m, east coast of India on 12 April 2016. It was recorded for the first time in Visakhapatnam. A detailed description, morphometric and meristic characters of the species are provided in this paper

New diet data for &lt;I&gt;Mola mola&lt;/I&gt; and &lt;I&gt;Masturus lanceolatus&lt;/I&gt; (Tetraodontiformes: Molidae) off Florida's Atlantic coast with discussion of historical context

Reports on the gut contents of ocean sunfish, Mola mola (Linnaeus, 1758), are rare, and those for sharptail mola, Masturus lanceolatus (Lienard, 1840), are almost nonexistent. Here, we report new diet data obtained during opportune sampling of a small number of stranded specimens of both species, and discuss our data in the context of hypotheses on feeding behavior of M. mola. One specimen of only two M. mola had a gut full primarily of filamentous algae, and the guts of two specimens of M. lanceolatus collectively contained remains of small fish and various invertebrates, indicative of both benthic and pelagic foraging. Our limited data suggest that the diet of M. lanceolatus overlaps that reported for M. mola. At high taxonomic resolution, observed prey items suggest some particulars of our specimens' behavior just before death. We emphasize the importance of meticulous presentation of methods, data, and literature citations.

DNA Barcoding of Sharp Tail Sunfish Masturus lanceolatus Lienard, 1840 (Tetraodontiformes: Molidae)

Detailed analyses on morphometry (expressed as % standard length and % head length), meristic characters and mitochondrial barcode region sequence of the sharp tail sunfish Masturus lanceolatus Lienard, 1840 have made to confirm the species identity. Further, investigations on phylogenetic relationships between species of the Molidae family have been taken into consideration by constructing neighbor-joining tree to fulfill the gaps on taxonomical validation and their biological information.