Kingdom    Animalia

Phylum      Chordata

Class          Actinopterygii

Order         Carangiformes

Family        Coryphaenidae

Genus        Coryphaena

Species      C. hippurus

Mahi-mahi Basics

It is a medium-sized epipelagic fish belonging to the Coryphaenidae family, generally known as dorado and common dolphin fish. Mahi-mahi may be found in tropical, subtropical, and temperate seas worldwide, including the Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian Oceans.

Mahi-mahi Description

The body is long, tall, and slender, with a blunt head as well as a mouth. The mahi-mahi has a striking look. They often reach a weight of 30 pounds and a length of 1 metre, and are distinguished by their vibrant coloration. Their flanks are golden yellow, and their pectoral fins are iridescent blue. Others, too, got blue rings surrounding their skulls. They have a big dorsal fin that looks like a sail and a massive caudal, or tail fin.

Distribution and Habitat

Mahi-mahi may be seen all around the globe, although they are most common in tropical, subtropical, and temperate seas. The fish may be found in Hawaii, Central America, Mexico, and also most of the Indian Ocean.

They are epipelagic, meaning they spend the majority of their life near the surface and offshore. Despite the fact that they have been seen diving to a depth of over 1,000 ft, they are most often seen in the first 100 feet of water.

Diet and Predators

Mahi-mahi are scavengers. They catch a variety of food, including tiny fish, using their speed and huge jaws. They’ll also go for squid, cuttlefish, as well as a variety of crustaceans. Zooplankton, little organisms that drift in the waters at the mercy of the currents, is another food source for juveniles.

Other marine predators eat mahi-mahi, so it’s a win-win situation. Yellowfin and bluefin tunas, for example, will eat almost any fish that falls within their size variety. Immature mahi-mahi are included. This also relates to toothed whales such as dolphins, orcas, and false killer whales, whose ranges overlap with mahi-mahi’s. When given the chance, mahi-mahi will be eaten by sea lions and seals, and also a variety of pelagic shark species, including the mako shark and blue shark.

Reproduction and Life Cycle

Mahi-mahi is a species that grows quickly. Females and males of the Mahi-mahi species achieve sexual maturity during their first year of life. Throughout each breeding season, females generate between 80,000 and 1,000,000 eggs, which happens two or three times each year. During these periods, females can discharge tens of thousands of eggs every few days until they are all expended. Males will discharge their sperm throughout the water stream as well. In which the egg is externally fertilised, and an embryo is formed.

Within a few days, this embryo develops into a larval fish and enters the zooplankton population. When they reach adulthood, young mahi-mahi will begin pursuing their own food and may spend their early years hiding from bigger fish and the open ocean’s powerful currents amid Sargassum spp., and other seaweeds and algae.

Mahi-mahi is a fast-growing, short-lived fish that reaches a maximum age of roughly 5 years. Most people, however, are not expected to live beyond the age of four.

Conservation Status

Mahi-mahi is a popular commercial and recreational fishing goal right now, having formerly been considered by catch from various fisheries, like tuna, current mahi-mahi stocks are thought to be quite healthy and sustainable, thanks in part to their rapid growth rate. As a consequence, the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species rates the species as Least Concern.

Fun Facts about Mahi-mahi!

Mahi-mahi is an enthralling species. It is a popular game fish and commercial fishing target since it is huge, swift, strong, and unusual. There are many more entertaining facts and insightful insights to discover when looking at the mahi-mahi from the perspective of the species.

Fastest Growing

Mahi-mahi are a species that grows quickly. It may grow up to 2.7 inches every week and mature into adults in approximately a year, with sexual maturity occurring at about 5-6 months of age. It is also known as the sea rabbit because of this characteristic.

They breed as quickly as rabbits. Throughout its breeding season, which could continue up to three times a year, females spawn every 2-3 days, discharging tens of thousands of eggs every cycle.

This rapid development rate not only increases the fish’s chances of life in its first year, yet it also has a beneficial impact on people, as the reputation of mahi-mahi as a commercial and recreational fishery grows. It is one of the few species that can now be fished responsibly due to its rapid development rate and high degree of fertility.

On the Fly

The mahi-mahi is a predatory fish that eats a wide variety of marine creatures. They hunt many sorts of tiny fish in particular. One mahi-mahi prey species is especially fascinating. The flying fish is noted for its ability to “fly,” which involves a succession of shallow-trajectory hops through the water. The mahi-mahi is especially famous for its ability to grab flying fish. Indeed, the mahi-mahi’s diet is so highly suited that the flying fish alone is thought to account for roughly 25% of the mahi-mahi’s weight.

Not a Dolphin

While generic names of species are valuable in and of themselves, they may also cause some confusion in a person’s knowledge of the natural environment. For instance, the mahi-mahi, for instance, is known by several different names. The word “mahi-mahi” comes from the Hawaiian language and means “strong.” “Dorado,” for example, is used across its area, including in Mexico and Central America. This popular name, which means “golden” in Spanish, refers to the fish’s distinctive yellow-gold coloration across most of its body. However, in some of the same places, especially Central America, Salminus brasiliensis is the generic term for a freshwater fish of the same name. This fish, on the other hand, has no evolutionary relationship to mahi-mahi.

“Common dolphin fish” is another frequent name for this species. They were formerly known as dolphins, but the term dolphin fish was only recently used to distinguish them from the popular marine mammals. Dolphins are sea creatures, so it’s hard to understand why they have such a popular name. The derivation of the terms “dolphin” and “dolphin fish” for members of the genus Coryphaena is unknown, and no one knows which is right.