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What the sources say

Mahi-MahiCoryphaena hippurus

Every figure, record and mechanism on the Mahi-Mahi profile was written from a source, and this is the working table behind it: 48 claims checked word for word against these sources. The left column is what the page says. The right column is the source's own words, copied, not paraphrased; a ... marks a cut and[brackets] an insertion. Open any source and check it yourself.

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Source
01

Collette et al. 2011

Collette et al. (2011). Coryphaena hippurus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2011: e.T154712A4614989.

The page saysLeast Concern
The source saysIUCN Red List category: Least Concern (LC).Note: stats.conservationStatus
The page saysThe IUCN Red List rates the species Least Concern.
The source saysIUCN Red List category: Least Concern (LC).Note: edition 2011-2 of the cited record, assessed 2010

Source
02

Florida Museum of Natural History, Discover Fishes

Dolphinfish (Coryphaena hippurus). Florida Museum of Natural History, Discover Fishes.

The page saysA gold-and-blue ocean sprinter that can pass 4 feet long in its first year.
The source saysgolden hues on the sides, irregular blotches of metallic blue and greens on the back and sidesNote: tagline colour
The page saysWarm open ocean worldwide, found offshore under floating objects, sometimes Sargassum weed.
The source saysthe dolphinfish is found offshore under floating objects. It is sometimes known to follow large ships and to hangout under large floating mats of sargassum.Note: habitat
The page saysWarm open ocean worldwide, found offshore under floating objects, sometimes Sargassum weed.
The source saysThe dolphinfish is distributed in tropical and subtropical waters throughout the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans.Note: habitat
The page saysMostly bony fish, especially flying fish, plus squid and crustaceans.
The source saysAdults feed mostly upon bony fishes, with flying fish (Exocoetidae) constituting approximately 25% of the food by weight.Note: diet
The page saysA typical adult is about 3 feet (1 m) long and weighs 30 pounds (14 kg).
The source saysbut more commonly to lengths of 3 feet (1 m). This fish commonly weighs 30 pounds (14 kg)
The page saysThe Florida Museum puts the world record at 87 pounds (39.5 kg), and FishBase lists a maximum length of 210 cm.
The source saysthe world record is 87 pounds (39.5 kg)
The page saysgolden sides, with irregular patches of metallic blue and green on the back
The source saysgolden hues on the sides, irregular blotches of metallic blue and greens on the back and sides
The page saysThe Florida Museum notes that a fresh-caught fish changes colour quickly, fading to uniform silver.
The source saysFreshly caught individuals change coloration very quickly, fading to a uniform silvery color.
The page saysMature males also grow a prominent bony ridge at the front of the head.
The source saysmature males develop a prominent bony ridge at the front of the head
The page saysDespite the nickname dolphin, the fish is not related to the marine mammals.
The source saysis not related to the marine mammal of the same common name (family Delphinidae)
The page saysFloating mats of Sargassum weed (a drifting brown seaweed) and other floating objects draw them in.
The source saysFishers take advantage of the dolphinfish’s attraction to floating objectsNote: attraction to floating objects
The page saysThey feed mainly during the day and rely on vision to find prey.
The source saysDolphinfish feed primarily during the day, as they rely upon the vision
The page saysAdults eat mostly bony fish, and flying fish make up approximately 25% of their food by weight.
The source saysAdults feed mostly upon bony fishes, with flying fish (Exocoetidae) constituting approximately 25% of the food by weight.
The page saysoften hunt in pairs or small packs
The source saysDolphinfish often hunt in pairs or small packs.
The page saysswift-moving, agile predators
The source saysDolphinfish are swift-moving, agile predators
The page saysSmall ones travel in schools of a few fish to over 50, while the larger adults travel alone or in pairs.
The source saysSmall dolphinfish travel together in schools ranging from just a few fish to over 50 individuals. The larger adult fish travel alone or in pairs.
The page saysmarlin, tuna and sailfish are among their predators, and the Florida Museum says dolphinfish are commonly seen with holes pierced through them by marlin bills.
The source saysDolphinfish are commonly observed with holes pierced through them by marlin bills.
The page saysmarlin, tuna and sailfish are among their predators
The source saysalbacore tuna ( Thunnus alalunga ), yellowfin tuna ( Thunnus albacares ), and blue marlin ( Makaira nigricans ) are predators of the dolphinfish
The page saysThe species lives in tropical and subtropical waters across the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Oceans, and FishBase gives a range from 50°N to 40°S.
The source saysThe dolphinfish is distributed in tropical and subtropical waters throughout the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans.
The page saysThe Florida Museum says the fish sometimes called dolphin is not related to the marine mammal of that name, which belongs to the family Delphinidae.
The source saysis not related to the marine mammal of the same common name (family Delphinidae)Note: FAQ
The page saysMahi-mahi is the Pacific name used to sell it.
The source saysBoth these species are commonly marketed by their Pacific name, mahi-mahi.Note: FAQ
The page saysA gold-and-blue ocean sprinter that can pass 4 feet long in its first year.
The source saysDolphinfish are swift-moving, agile predatorsNote: tagline sprinter
The page saysUnderwater it is a lightning show
The source saysThis fish is very colorful underwater, catching light and reflecting a wide range of brilliant colors.Note: lightning show
The page saysHunting the weed line
The source saysThis fish often associates with Sargassum in the Florida Current and Gulf Stream, where they prey primarily upon the smaller fishes and invertebrates associated with these tide lines.Note: heading
The page saysEverywhere warm
The source saysThe dolphinfish is distributed in tropical and subtropical waters throughout the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans.Note: heading
The page saysGold, blue and fading fast
The source saysFreshly caught individuals change coloration very quickly, fading to a uniform silvery color.Note: heading
The page saysThe colour does not last once the fish is caught.
The source saysFreshly caught individuals change coloration very quickly, fading to a uniform silvery color.Note: colour fades

Source
03

NOAA Fisheries

Pacific Mahimahi. NOAA Fisheries.

The page saysA gold-and-blue ocean sprinter that can pass 4 feet long in its first year.
The source sayscapable of lengths over 4 feet in the first year of lifeNote: tagline growth
The page saysGrows over 4 feet long in its first year.
The source sayscapable of lengths over 4 feet in the first year of lifeNote: superpower
The page saysNOAA Fisheries calls it one of the fastest-growing fish in the ocean, capable of passing 4 feet in its first year and 6 feet within four.
The source saysAs one of the fastest-growing fish in the ocean, they are capable of lengths over 4 feet in the first year of life, and over 6 feet in four years.
The page saysVery fast. NOAA Fisheries ranks it among the ocean's fastest-growing fish: one can top 4 feet before its first birthday and 6 feet by age four.
The source saysAs one of the fastest-growing fish in the ocean, they are capable of lengths over 4 feet in the first year of life, and over 6 feet in four years.Note: FAQ
The page saysFour feet in a year
The source sayscapable of lengths over 4 feet in the first year of lifeNote: heading
The page saysNOAA Fisheries says they live up to 5 years.
The source saysThey live up to 5 years.Note: lifespan; NOAA pages (updated 2026) supersede Florida Museum/FishBase 4 years
The page saysMahi-mahi can pass 4 feet in their first year
The source sayscapable of lengths over 4 feet in the first year of life
The page saysNOAA says they live up to 5 years
The source saysThey live up to 5 years.

Source
04

NOAA Fisheries

Atlantic Mahi Mahi. NOAA Fisheries.

The page saysMahi-mahi live near the surface, at depths of 0 to 85 m.
The source saysAtlantic mahi mahi live near the surface in tropical and subtropical waters.Note: surface: NOAA Atlantic
The page saysFloating mats of Sargassum weed (a drifting brown seaweed) and other floating objects draw them in.
The source saysfloating brown algae called SargassumNote: Sargassum = floating brown algae
The page saysNOAA says Atlantic mahi mahi can reproduce at 4 to 5 months old, and are believed to spawn every 2 to 3 days in the spawning season, releasing 33,000 to 66,000 eggs each time.
The source sayscapable of reproducing at 4 to 5 months old. Mahi mahi are believed to spawn every 2 to 3 days during the spawning season, releasing between 33,000 and 66,000 eggs each time.
The page saysNOAA says mahi mahi are highly sought for sport fishing and commercial purposes.
The source saysMahi mahi are highly sought for sport fishing and commercial purposes.
The page saysNOAA Fisheries says they live up to 5 years.
The source saysThey live up to 5 yearsNote: lifespan, Atlantic page agrees

Source
05

FishBase

Coryphaena hippurus, Common dolphinfish. FishBase.

The page saysMostly bony fish, especially flying fish, plus squid and crustaceans.
The source saysalso takes crustaceans and squidNote: diet
The page saysThe Florida Museum puts the world record at 87 pounds (39.5 kg), and FishBase lists a maximum length of 210 cm.
The source saysMax length : 210 cm TL
The page saysMahi-mahi live near the surface, at depths of 0 to 85 m.
The source saysdepth range 0 - 85 m
The page saysThe species lives in tropical and subtropical waters across the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Oceans, and FishBase gives a range from 50°N to 40°S.
The source says50°N - 40°S
The page saysFishBase lists a maximum length of 210 cm and a maximum published weight of 40 kg.
The source saysMax length : 210 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 9846 ); common length : 100.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 3390 ); max. published weight: 40.0 kgNote: FAQ
The page saysA typical adult is far smaller, about 1 m long.
The source sayscommon length : 100.0 cm TLNote: FAQ

How the table was made: a writer drafted the profile from these sources and logged each claim with its quote, a reviewer with nothing but this table checked every sentence said no more than its quote, and a script confirmed each quote appears word for word in the source. The method is in the site'sAbout page.