Mahi-mahi

The mahi-mahi (/ˌmɑːhiˈmɑːhi/ MAH-hee-MAH-hee), also known as the common dolphinfish, dorado, or dolphin, is a special kind of fish that lives near the surface of the water. You can find it in warm and tropical seas all around the world. It is not related to the dolphin animal, even though it shares a similar name.

This fish belongs to a family called Coryphaenidae, and it has a close relative known as the pompano dolphinfish. Mahi-mahi are often seen in places like the Gulf of Mexico, Costa Rica, Hawaii, and the Indian Ocean. In Italy, it has different names such as corifena, lampuga, or pesce capone, and it even inspired a dish called caponata. Mahi-mahi are popular among fishers and seafood lovers because of their tasty flesh and beautiful appearance.

Nomenclature

The name mahi-mahi comes from the Hawaiian language, meaning "very strong". It is also called the common dolphinfish, but it is not related to dolphins. The name "dolphinfish" was used so people would not confuse it with dolphins. In some places, it is called dorado, which is its name in Spanish.

The scientist Linnaeus named the group this fish belongs to in 1758. Other older names for this fish include Coryphaena argyrurus, Coryphaena chrysurus, and Coryphaena dolfyn.

Description

Mahi-mahi fish have slim, flat bodies with a long dorsal fin that stretches from their head almost to their tail. Male mahi-mahi get a bump on their heads as they grow older, while females have rounded heads. Their tails and fins curve sharply, and they are bright with golden sides and blue and green backs. Their chest fins also shine blue.

When taken out of water, mahi-mahi change color, which is why they are called "dorado" in Spanish, meaning golden. Their colors slowly fade to a dull yellow-grey.

Biology

Mahi-mahi usually live about four to five years. Female mahi-mahi are often smaller than males. Most caught mahi-mahi weigh between 7 to 13 kg and are about a meter long. They rarely weigh more than 15 kg. Mahi-mahi grow quickly and lay eggs in warm ocean currents during many months of the year. Their young are often found near floating Sargassum seaweed. Young mahi-mahi migrate past Malta, where they are called lampuki, and Sicily, where they are known as lampuga or capone. There, they are caught using nets and floating mats of palm leaves.

Reproduction

Mahi-mahi fish can have babies when they are about four to five months old. Female mahi-mahi can have babies two to three times a year. They lay many eggs each time. These fish live near the top layer of the water. Their meat turns white when cooked and tastes good.

Diet

Mahi-mahi are meat-eaters. They eat flying fish, crabs, squid, mackerel, and other small fish. They also sometimes eat tiny sea animals called zooplankton. Mahi-mahi can swim very fast to catch their food.

Relation to humans

Fishing

Mahi-mahi are popular for both sport and commercial fishing. People enjoy catching them because they are beautiful, large, and taste good. You can find them in many places, such as the Caribbean Sea, near North and South America, along the coast of Costa Rica, in the Gulf of Mexico, and near Florida and West Africa. Fishermen often look for floating objects like wood or seaweed where mahi-mahi like to gather.

Experienced fishing guides know where to find these fish by watching birds like frigatebirds.

In astronomy

The constellation Dorado is named after the mahi-mahi. It can be found near the Large Magellanic Cloud.

Environmental and food safety concerns

Depending on how mahi-mahi is caught, some groups give it different ratings for safety. Some advice suggests eating only a certain amount each month to stay safe. There are also rare cases where eating mahi-mahi can make people sick, but this is not common.