Depth about two-thirds of the length: skin rough.

O. Mola, Flem. Brit. An. p. 175. Mola Salviani, Will. Hist. Pise. p. 151. tab. I. 26. Tetrodon Mola, Linn. Syst. Nat. torn. 1. p. 412. Don. Brit. Fish. vol. 11. pl. 25. Dioclon Mola, Bloch, Ichth. pl. 128. Cephalus brevis, Shaw, Gen. Zool. vol. v. part ii. p. 437. pl. 175. Turt. Brit. Faun. p. 116. Sun-Fish, Borl. Cornw. p. 267. pl. 26. f, 6. Short Diodon, Penn. Brit. Zool. vol. iii. p. 131. pl. 19. Short Tetrodon, Id. (Edit. 1812). vol. iii. p. 172. pl. 22.

Length

From three to four feet.

Description

(Form). Oblong, approaching orbicular, truncated behind: sides very much compressed; the dorsal and ventral lines presenting a sharp edge: depth behind the pectorals about two-thirds of the entire length; thickness rather more than one-third of the depth: head not distinguishable from the trunk; mouth small; jaws exposed; the lamel-lated substance undivided: eyes moderate, about equidistant from the corner of the mouth and the branchial aperture, which last is of an oval form, and situate immediately before the pectoral fin: skin destitute of scales, but every-where very rough with minute granulations: no lateral line: dorsal placed at the further extremity of the body, short but very much elevated, its height equalling two-thirds or more of the depth of the body, terminating upwards in a point; rays very much branched: anal opposite and exactly similar to the dorsal: caudal with the posterior margin slightly rounded, very short, but its depth (or breadth, measured vertically) nearly equalling that of the body, extending from the dorsal to the anal, with both of which fins it is connected: pectorals small, rounded, attached horizontally: ventrals wanting.

* Ichlh. pl. 110.

D. 17; A. 16; C. 14; P. 13*.

{Colours). Back dusky gray; belly and sides silvery.

Rare in the British seas, but has been captured, in different instances, upon various parts of the coast. Attains to an enormous size; sometimes weighing as much as four hundred or five hundred pounds. Generally distributed over the European seas. According to Bloch, occasionally reposes on one side, in which situation, when surprised, it is easily taken. Flesh bad, but yielding a great deal of oil.