Slender Sunfish

Ranzania laevis (species), “Dwarf Sunfish”, “Oblong Sunfish”, “Slender Mola”, “Truncated Sunfish”, “Trunkfish”

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The slender sunfish (Ranzania laevis) is a mola of the family Molidae, the only extant member of the genus Ranzania, found globally in tropical and temperate seas. Its length is up to 1 m (3.3 ft). Several stranding and mass stranding events have occurred on beaches near Albany, Western Australia.The first South Australian specimen was found at Aldinga in 1944. A cast was made from it, and a replica was made, painted and prepared for display at the South Australian museum that year. Several other individuals have stranded in South Australia at Port Willunga, Netley and West Beach with the latter successfully returned live to deeper water.The body of this fish gives the appearance of the side view of a larger shark (an optical illusion underwater). This is most likely to ward off any would…