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Dolphinfish
ON EXHIBIT
At the Aquarium
Natural History
Considered by many to be the most beautiful fish in the sea, the dolphinfish sports iridescent body colors—metallic blues and greens on the back and sides, with white and yellow underneath. Many dolphinfish have blue, green or black spots.A dolphinfish’s body is sleek and long, with a dorsal fin that extends from head to tail. A mature male’s forehead is high and sloping; a mature female’s forehead is less steep. That lunate (forked) tail propels this fast-swimming fish to speeds of 40 miles an hour. Dolphinfish is a popular menu item. To distinguish it from dolphins (which are mammals), restaurants have popularized its Hawaiian name—mahi mahi.
Conservation
The dolphinfish are acrobatic, feisty fish, popular with recreational fishermen, and are sought after by commercial fisheries, which often catch them on longlines. Longlines can be 20 to 69 miles (32 to 111 km) long, with branch lines fitted with large hooks at each end. An average longline places 1,500 to 2,000 hooks in the water at the same time. Unfortunately, longlines attract and kill many types of animals, including sea turtles, seabirds and sharks. This “bycatch” of nontarget species makes longlining a significant threat to ocean wildlife.Dolphinfish have never had a scientific stock assessment. Hopefully, fishery research will show that this fish is abundant. In the meantime, some state councils on the East Coast are regulating dolphinfish catches. Learn more about whether mahi mahi is a sustainable seafood choice in the Seafood Watch section of our website.
Cool Facts
Dolphinfish live in the “fast lane.” They mature in four to five months, grow up to one-and-a-half feet per year and live a maximum of five years.
Juvenile dolphinfish as well as several other species of pelagic fish are attracted to floating kelp mats, boats, sargassum, logs and debris. Since the floating objects don't provide food or much protection, scientists aren't sure why this is so.
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Animal Facts
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ON EXHIBIT
- Scientific Name:
Coryphaena hippurus
- Habitat:
Open Waters
- Animal Type:
Fishes
- Diet:
almost all forms of fish and zooplankton—also crustaceans and squid
- Size:
to 6.8 feet (210 cm), 88 pounds (40 kg)
- Range:
tropical and subtropical waters in the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian oceans; migrates
- Relatives:
pompano dolphinfish; Family: Coryphaenidae
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