sharptail mola

The sharptail mola (Masturus lanceolatus) is a large oceanic fish belonging to the family Molidae. These fish are characterized by a bullet-shaped body that abruptly ends in a clavus, a rudder-like structure formed by the folding of the dorsal fin. They are flattened from side to side, possess tough skin, a small mouth, and fused, beak-like teeth. The sharptail mola can reach impressive lengths of up to 3.37 meters (11.1 feet). While molas are generally not endangered, the sharptail mola has faced increased commercial fishing pressure in the 21st century, particularly near Asia, raising concerns about its vulnerability.12