sunfish

noun (plural same or sunfishes)

• 1a large deep-bodied marine fish of warm seas, with tall dorsal and anal fins near the rear of the body and a very short tail. Also called mola.

  • Family Molidae: three genera and several species, in particular the very large ocean sunfish (Mola mola)

• 2a nest-building freshwater fish that is native to North America and popular in aquaria, e.g. the pumpkinseed.

  • Several genera and species in the family Centrarchidae (the sunfish family). This family also includes sporting fish such as the black basses, rock bass, bluegill, and crappies