Mahi-Mahi
Found throughout the world’s tropical and subtropical oceans, the mahi-mahi’s dazzling colors (and delicious taste) make them popular sport fish.
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Carangiformes
Family: Coryphaenidae
Genus: Coryphaena
Species: C. hippurus
Common Names: Mahi-Mahi, Dolphin, Dolphinfish, Dorado, Common Dolphinfish
Mahi-mahi are usually found near the surface of the water. Younger fish travel together in schools, but older fish are more solitary, preferring to be alone. They are often found near floating objects in the open ocean, both natural and man-made, including pieces of driftwood, and floating patches of sargassum (a type of floating algae).
They feed on a variety of smaller sea creatures, including crabs, squid, and smaller fish (with flying fish being a favorite). They are very fast swimmers, capable of reaching speeds of nearly 60 miles per hour in pursuit of prey.
Mahi-mahi are very fast growing fish, reaching maturity around four to five months of age. Females produce as many as a million eggs per spawning, which occurs in warm waters year round.
Mahi-mahi can grow up to seven feet in length and weigh as much as 88 pounds, though they average around three feet and 30 pounds. Their body shape is distinctive, with a long dorsal fin running the length of their upper body, a deeply forked tail, and a very prominent bulging forehead in adult males.
Their colors are also very noteworthy, with bright green on their upper bodies, golden yellow on the sides, and electric blue spots all over their body. Blue can also be found on their pectoral fins, along the lower lip, and on the edge of their dorsal fin.
Mahi-mahi are an important animal for both commercial and sport fishing. Artwork depicting mahi-mahi fishing has been found as far back as Ancient Greece.
Mahi-mahi have many common names, including dolphin and dorado. However, both can be confusing, as “dolphin” is also a common name for sea mammals related to whales, and the name “dorado” is shared with an unrelated freshwater fish species.
To avoid confusion, the fish is often called either “dolphinfish” or referred to by its Hawai’an name, “mahi-mahi”, which means “very strong”.
The mahi-mahi is a species of Least Concern, meaning it is not presently in danger of extinction. While commercial fisheries exist, they are not currently in danger of being overfished.
References:
https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/species/atlantic-mahi-mahi
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahi-mahi
Safari Ltd Mahi-Mahi Toys: