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Coryphaena

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Coryphaena
Mahi-mahi (C. hippurus)
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Carangiformes
Family: Coryphaenidae
Rafinesque, 1810
Genus: Coryphaena
Linnaeus, 1758
Type species
Coryphaena hippurus
Linnaeus, 1758
Species

See text.

Coryphaena is a genus of marine ray-finned fishes known as the dolphinfishes. This genus is currently the only known genus in its family. The species in this genus have compressed heads and single dorsal fins that run the entire length of the fishes' bodies. Dolphinfishes are some of the fastest-growing species in the ocean, so serve as a primary food source for many pelagic predators. The dolphinfish can reach up to about 88 pounds (40 kg).

Dolphinfishes are unrelated to dolphins (which are mammals), and commercially their meat is often labeled with its Hawaiian name mahi-mahi to reduce possible public confusion. The origin of the name "dolphinfish" is recent, to avoid confusion with dolphins, as the traditional name of the fish was also dolphin. Why the mammal and the fish were both called dolphin is uncertain, but theories include that dolphinfish communicate using high-pitched sounds similar to a dolphin,[1] because they are about the size of a small dolphin,[2] or due to dorado (Spanish for "golden") having been purportedly used historically in Spanish for both dolphins (normally delfín) and dolphinfish.[3]

Species

The currently recognized species in this genus are:[4]

Names brought to synonymy

See also

References

  1. ^ "Why Is Mahi Mahi Called a Dolphin? - Lesson.Website". 2016-03-06. Retrieved 2016-09-10.
  2. ^ "Dolphinfish Facts". whalefacts.org. 2016. Retrieved 2016-09-10.
  3. ^ "Mahi-Mahi / Dolphins vs. real Dolphins - Straight Dope Message Board". 2002-12-19. Retrieved 2016-09-10.
  4. ^ Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Species in genus Coryphaena". FishBase. April 2013 version.