Scientific Name
Coryphaena hippurus

Common Name
Common dolphinfish

Biology
Found in open waters but also near the coast (Ref. 9293, 11230). Forms schools. Feeds on almost all forms of fish and zooplankton; also takes crustaceans and squid (Ref. 2850). Sexual maturity is reached in 4-5 months (3 for captive fish) (Ref. 11441). Spawns in the open sea and probably approximate to the coast when water temperature rises (Ref. 9293). Eggs and larvae are pelagic (Ref. 6755). Attracting devices such as floating bundles of bamboo reeds or cork planks are used to concentrate dolphin fish before the nets are set. Marketed frozen (Ref. 9987) and fresh and is of high value (Ref. 9293).

Classification

Classified By

Linnaeus, 1758

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Perch-like fish (Perciformes)

Family

Dolphinfishes (Coryphaenidae)

Distribution

Region

Atlantic, Indian and Pacific

Distribution

Atlantic, Indian and Pacific: in tropical and subtropical waters. Highly migratory species, Annex I of the 1982 Convention on the Law of the Sea (Ref. 26139).

Range

47°N - 38°S, 180°W - 180°E

Environment

Climate

Subtropical

Water Temperature From

21 °C

Water Temperature To

30 °C

Depth From - meters

0 m

Depth To - meters

85 m

Zone

pelagic-neritic

Environment

Marine; brackish; pelagic-neritic; oceanodromous (Ref. 51243); depth range 0 - 85 m (Ref. 13608), usually 5 - 10 m (Ref. 40849)

Trophic Level

4.37 s.e. 0.77 Based on diet studies.

Occurs in Marine / Salt water

True

Occurs in Brackish water

True

Occurs in Fresh Water

False

Occurs on Reefs

False

Is kept in Aquariums

False

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length

210 cm

Common Length

100.0 cm

Phylogenetic Diversity Index

PD50 = 1.0000 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses

Fisheries: highly commercial; aquaculture: commercial; gamefish: yes

Vulnerability

Moderate vulnerability (39 of 100)

Resilience

High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (K=0.4-1.2; tm

Threat To Humans

Reports of ciguatera poisoning (Ref. 30911)

IUCN Red List Status

Least Concern (LC)