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Mahi-mahi

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Mahi-mahi images (Coryphaena hippurus) - stock photos, illustrations & facts on this beautiful fish

Conservation status | Least Concern
Scientific classification | Kingdom: Animalia > Phylum: Chordata > Class: Actinopterygii > Order: Perciformes > Family: Coryphaenidae > Genus: Coryphaena > Species: C. hippurus
Binomial name | Coryphaena hippurus

The Mahi-mahi, Coryphaena hippurus, also known as common dolphinfish and dorado, identifies it uniquely as one of two member of the family Coryphaenidae and genus Coryphaena, or dolphinfish, the other being the pompano dolphin, Coryphaena equiselis. It is commonly referred to by fishermen as “dolphin,” although it is a fish, and unrelated to the marine mammals called dolphins.

Dorado is perhaps the most descriptive title for this lovely fish. This word means “golden” in Spanish, and describes one of many hues with which this chameleon-of-the-seas can adorn itself. When excited or stressed, mahi-mahi flash different iridescent color patterns, cycling rapidly through shades of silver, blue, green, and gold, often with adornments of yellow fins and blue spots. The colors are most spectacular in the larger fish. Males grow larger than females, reaching a maximum size of nearly 87 pounds and over 7 feet long. Large males develop a bulging squared-off “Frankenstein” shaped forehead, while females retain the gently-sloping forehead seen in juveniles. Juveniles are often referred to as “schoolies” due to their habit of traveling in schools of up to a hundred or more fish, while adults are more likely to be found singly, in pairs, or small groups.

Mahi-mahi feed on almost anything they can get into their mouths, including fish, crustaceans, squid, sea jellies, and other organisms that inhabit the upper 33 feet or so of the water column where mahi-mahi are most common. Juveniles feed primarily on copepods, fish larvae, and other small plankton, while adults most commonly consume flying fish and other small pelagic fishes.

Mahi-mahi are sought by "sport" fishermen for the strong fight and spectacular jumps they exhibit when trying to escape from the hooks. Commercial fishermen hunt them for their high market price and abundance. Artists and photographers admire their psychedelic metal-flake colors. Mahi-mahi are resistant to overfishing due to their extremely fast growth rate, early maturity, year-round spawning in most of their range, high fecundity, and wide distribution. They are found in coastal waters and on the high seas throughout the tropics and sub-tropics. The floating eggs hatch in the open sea, and reach maturity in only 4-5 months at a size of about 8 inches. They live for only 4-5 years. Remarkably, in this age of over-fishing, most populations appear to be in good condition. Their habit of spawning in pairs, rather than larger groups, protects mahimahi from exploitation targeted at breeding aggregations.
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