The mahi-mahi (Coryphaena hippurus) is a surface-dwelling ray-finned fish that forms school in off-shore temperate, tropical and subtropical waters worldwide. It is also known as the dorado, common dolphinfish or just dolphin, a name that causes come confusion, as this fish is not related to the marine mammal dolphin. Coryphaena hippurus and the slightly smaller pompano dolphinfish (C. equiselis) are the only two taxa in the family Coryphaenidae family. Mahi-Mahi live up to 7 years and are among the world’s fastest growing fish, reaching up to 15 kg. Their carnivorous diet includes invertebrates and fish, and sometimes zooplankton. A popular sport fish, they are also widely eaten and, when not caught by long-line, are classified by several agencies as a environmentally-healthy eating fish, including the Monterey Aquarium and the Environmental Defense Fund. The National Resources Defense Council indicates that it contains “moderate mercury” contamination, and to limit helpings to six servings per month.
(Fishbase 2011; Monterey Aquarium Seafood Watch; NRDC; Wikipedia 23 December 2011; Wikipedia 13 August 2011)
- FishBase, November 15, 2011. Coryphaena hippurus, Common dolphinfish. Retrieved January 10, 2012 from http://www.fishbase.org/summary/Coryphaena-hippurus.html
- Monterey Aquarium Seafood Watch Fact sheet. Retrieved January 10, 2012 from http://www.montereybayaquarium.org/cr/SeafoodWatch/web/sfw_factsheet.aspx?gid=11
- NRDC. Mercury Contamination in Fish. Retrieved January 10, 2012 from http://www.nrdc.org/health/effects/mercury/guide.asp
- Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 23 December 2011. “Mahi-mahi”. Retrieved January 10, 2012 from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mahi-mahi&oldid=467378455
- Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 13 August 2011. “Pompano Dolphinfish”. Retrieved January 10, 2012 from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Pompano_dolphinfish&oldid=444712658
