Mola, KOELREUTER, 1766

Nyegaard, Marianne, Sawai, Etsuro, Gemmell, Neil, Gillum, Joanne, Loneragan, Neil R., Yamanoue, Yusuke & Stewart, Andrew L., 2018, Hiding in broad daylight: molecular and morphological data reveal a new ocean sunfish species (Tetraodontiformes: Molidae) that has eluded recognition, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 182, pp. 631-658 : 641

GENUS MOLA KOELREUTER, 1766

Mola Koelreuter, 1766 . Type specimen Mola aculeata , i.e. pre-juvenile form.

Mola Cuvier, 1798 . Type specimen Tetraodon mola Linnaeus, 1758 , i.e. adult form.

Diagnosis: Genus diagnosis, modified from Parenti (2003): Body ovoid, highly compressed laterally; lacking a true caudal fin; caudal region with a pseudocaudal (clavus), rounded, sometimes slightly crenulated, but without a mid-flap extension. Mouth small; teeth united, fused and beaklike. Fins without spines; dorsal fin posterior, erect, high, short-based, anal fin opposite the same shape. Pelvic fins absent. Skin leathery and thick; scales reduced, rounded base with a single, erect point or rectangular shape; non-imbricated. Gill openings small, oval, in front of pectorals. Lateral lines around eyes (nearly imperceptible). No swim bladder. Darker above, paler or dusky below, often spots and patterns on the sides.