sun·fish / ˈsənˌfish/ • n. (pl. same or -fishes) 1. a large deep-bodied marine fish (family Molidae) of warm seas, with tall dorsal and anal fins near the rear of the body and a very short tail. Its several species include the very large ocean sunfish (Mola mola), also known as mola mola. 2. a nest-building freshwater fish native to North America and popular in aquariums. The freshwater sunfish family (Centrarchidae) also includes sport fish such as the black basses, rock bass, bluegill, and crappies.

sunfish North American freshwater fish. A popular angler's fish, similar in appearance to perch, it has a continuous dorsal fin containing spiny and soft rays. The 30 species range in size from the blue-spotted Enneacanthus gloriosus (length: 8.9cm; 3.5in) to the large-mouth bass Micropterus salmoides (length: 81.3cm; 32in; weight: 10kg; 22lb). Family Centrarchidae.

sunfish See CENTRARCHIDAE; MOLIDAE.