Dec 27, 2013 6:30 AM

Gallery: Absurd Creature of the Week: 'Pufferfish on Steroids' Gets as Big as a Truck

<a href="http://www.earthwindow.com/mola.html" target="_blank">Mike Johnson</a>
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The ocean sunfish takes its name from being a fish that lives in the ocean.
<a href="http://www.earthwindow.com/mola.html" target="_blank">Mike Johnson</a>
02
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More specifically, the ocean sunfish is so named because of its strange basking behavior. This posture invites seagulls and cleaner fish to remove parasites from its skin. Scroll down to the comments for some guy's inevitable quip about how the American government is the true parasite. I can't write the word "parasite" without it happening. Seriously.

<a href="http://www.earthwindow.com/mola.html" target="_blank">Mike Johnson</a>
03
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A parasitic copepod attached to an ocean sunfish, probably some kind of vague allegory for the American government parasitizing its citizens.
<a href="http://www.earthwindow.com/mola.html" target="_blank">Mike Johnson</a>
04
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Its large eyes help it hunt prey at depths up to 3,000 feet.

<a href="http://www.earthwindow.com/mola.html" target="_blank">Mike Johnson</a>
05
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Heidi Dewar (left) and Tierney Thys ready a tracking device for use on an ocean sunfish.
<a href="http://www.earthwindow.com/mola.html" target="_blank">Mike Johnson</a>
06
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An ocean sunfish with its stylish new piercing.

<a href="http://www.earthwindow.com/mola.html" target="_blank">Mike Johnson</a>
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The creature's skin is incredible hardy and rough, and is actually covered in tiny spines – a dead giveaway of its relation to the pufferfish.

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