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17 November 2021 Live Coloration and Schooling Behavior of Juvenile Sharptail Mola, Masturus lanceolatus (Tetraodontiformes: Molidae), Off South Florida
Shanthi Hegde, James C. Tyler, Walt Stearns, Katherine E. Bemis
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Abstract

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.

Shanthi Hegde, James C. Tyler, Walt Stearns, and Katherine E. Bemis "Live Coloration and Schooling Behavior of Juvenile Sharptail Mola, Masturus lanceolatus (Tetraodontiformes: Molidae), Off South Florida," Southeastern Naturalist 20(4), N102-N107, (17 November 2021). https://doi.org/10.1656/058.020.0402
Published: 17 November 2021
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