日本近海で採集されたマンボウ属（Mola spp. A and B）の形態異常個体

Of 145 ocean sunfish specimens obtained from Japanese coastal waters between June 2007 and December 2008, morphologically abnormal forms were confirmed in a total of 18 specimens. Seven had transformed pectoral fins; two had shortened dorsal fins; one had abnormally arranged dorsal soft rays; one was missing the lower part of the clavus; one was missing the whole clavus; three had partially damaged bodies or fins, probably because of artificial cutting; two had hypertrophied testes; and one was a young fish in the juvenile-specific morphological form. These abnormal forms were thought to have occurred as a consequence of congenital malformation or damage by predation, parasites, humans, or other factors. One suffered a transformation in body shape from a natural form, probably because it was reared for a long period of time in an aquarium. According to the frequency of non-artifically abnormal individuals (ca. 10%, 14/145), the occurrence of abnormalities is not rare in natural populations.