---
title: "What the sources say about the Mahi-Mahi | AnimalTracks.wiki"
description: "48 claims from the Mahi-Mahi profile, each beside the words of the source that backs it."
image: "https://animaltracks.wiki/images/animals/mahi-mahi-1.webp"
canonical: "https://animaltracks.wiki/animals/mahi-mahi/sources/"
---

# What the sources say about the Mahi-Mahi (*Coryphaena hippurus*)

> 48 claims from the Mahi-Mahi profile, each beside the words of the source that backs it. A "..." marks a cut in a quote and [brackets] an insertion.

Profile: [Mahi-Mahi](https://animaltracks.wiki/animals/mahi-mahi/)

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

https://doi.org/10.2305/iucn.uk.2011-2.rlts.t154712a4614989.en

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

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

https://www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/discover-fish/species-profiles/coryphaena-hippurus/

| The page says | The source says |
| :--- | :--- |
| A gold-and-blue ocean sprinter that can pass 4 feet long in its first year. | golden hues on the sides, irregular blotches of metallic blue and greens on the back and sides (note: tagline colour) |
| Warm open ocean worldwide, found offshore under floating objects, sometimes Sargassum weed. | the 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) |
| Warm open ocean worldwide, found offshore under floating objects, sometimes Sargassum weed. | The dolphinfish is distributed in tropical and subtropical waters throughout the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans. (note: habitat) |
| Mostly bony fish, especially flying fish, plus squid and crustaceans. | Adults feed mostly upon bony fishes, with flying fish (Exocoetidae) constituting approximately 25% of the food by weight. (note: diet) |
| A typical adult is about 3 feet (1 m) long and weighs 30 pounds (14 kg). | but more commonly to lengths of 3 feet (1 m). This fish commonly weighs 30 pounds (14 kg) |
| The Florida Museum puts the world record at 87 pounds (39.5 kg), and FishBase lists a maximum length of 210 cm. | the world record is 87 pounds (39.5 kg) |
| golden sides, with irregular patches of metallic blue and green on the back | golden hues on the sides, irregular blotches of metallic blue and greens on the back and sides |
| The Florida Museum notes that a fresh-caught fish changes colour quickly, fading to uniform silver. | Freshly caught individuals change coloration very quickly, fading to a uniform silvery color. |
| Mature males also grow a prominent bony ridge at the front of the head. | mature males develop a prominent bony ridge at the front of the head |
| Despite the nickname dolphin, the fish is not related to the marine mammals. | is not related to the marine mammal of the same common name (family Delphinidae) |
| Floating mats of Sargassum weed (a drifting brown seaweed) and other floating objects draw them in. | Fishers take advantage of the dolphinfish’s attraction to floating objects (note: attraction to floating objects) |
| They feed mainly during the day and rely on vision to find prey. | Dolphinfish feed primarily during the day, as they rely upon the vision |
| Adults eat mostly bony fish, and flying fish make up approximately 25% of their food by weight. | Adults feed mostly upon bony fishes, with flying fish (Exocoetidae) constituting approximately 25% of the food by weight. |
| often hunt in pairs or small packs | Dolphinfish often hunt in pairs or small packs. |
| swift-moving, agile predators | Dolphinfish are swift-moving, agile predators |
| Small ones travel in schools of a few fish to over 50, while the larger adults travel alone or in pairs. | Small dolphinfish travel together in schools ranging from just a few fish to over 50 individuals. The larger adult fish travel alone or in pairs. |
| marlin, tuna and sailfish are among their predators, and the Florida Museum says dolphinfish are commonly seen with holes pierced through them by marlin bills. | Dolphinfish are commonly observed with holes pierced through them by marlin bills. |
| marlin, tuna and sailfish are among their predators | albacore tuna ( Thunnus alalunga ), yellowfin tuna ( Thunnus albacares ), and blue marlin ( Makaira nigricans ) are predators of the dolphinfish |
| The 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 dolphinfish is distributed in tropical and subtropical waters throughout the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans. |
| The Florida Museum says the fish sometimes called dolphin is not related to the marine mammal of that name, which belongs to the family Delphinidae. | is not related to the marine mammal of the same common name (family Delphinidae) (note: FAQ) |
| Mahi-mahi is the Pacific name used to sell it. | Both these species are commonly marketed by their Pacific name, mahi-mahi. (note: FAQ) |
| A gold-and-blue ocean sprinter that can pass 4 feet long in its first year. | Dolphinfish are swift-moving, agile predators (note: tagline sprinter) |
| Underwater it is a lightning show | This fish is very colorful underwater, catching light and reflecting a wide range of brilliant colors. (note: lightning show) |
| Hunting the weed line | This 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) |
| Everywhere warm | The dolphinfish is distributed in tropical and subtropical waters throughout the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans. (note: heading) |
| Gold, blue and fading fast | Freshly caught individuals change coloration very quickly, fading to a uniform silvery color. (note: heading) |
| The colour does not last once the fish is caught. | Freshly caught individuals change coloration very quickly, fading to a uniform silvery color. (note: colour fades) |

## Pacific Mahimahi. NOAA Fisheries.

https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/species/pacific-mahimahi

| The page says | The source says |
| :--- | :--- |
| A gold-and-blue ocean sprinter that can pass 4 feet long in its first year. | capable of lengths over 4 feet in the first year of life (note: tagline growth) |
| Grows over 4 feet long in its first year. | capable of lengths over 4 feet in the first year of life (note: superpower) |
| NOAA 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. | As 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. |
| Very 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. | As 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) |
| Four feet in a year | capable of lengths over 4 feet in the first year of life (note: heading) |
| NOAA Fisheries says they live up to 5 years. | They live up to 5 years. (note: lifespan; NOAA pages (updated 2026) supersede Florida Museum/FishBase 4 years) |
| Mahi-mahi can pass 4 feet in their first year | capable of lengths over 4 feet in the first year of life |
| NOAA says they live up to 5 years | They live up to 5 years. |

## Atlantic Mahi Mahi. NOAA Fisheries.

https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/species/atlantic-mahi-mahi

| The page says | The source says |
| :--- | :--- |
| Mahi-mahi live near the surface, at depths of 0 to 85 m. | Atlantic mahi mahi live near the surface in tropical and subtropical waters. (note: surface: NOAA Atlantic) |
| Floating mats of Sargassum weed (a drifting brown seaweed) and other floating objects draw them in. | floating brown algae called Sargassum (note: Sargassum = floating brown algae) |
| NOAA 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. | capable 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. |
| NOAA says mahi mahi are highly sought for sport fishing and commercial purposes. | Mahi mahi are highly sought for sport fishing and commercial purposes. |
| NOAA Fisheries says they live up to 5 years. | They live up to 5 years (note: lifespan, Atlantic page agrees) |

## Coryphaena hippurus, Common dolphinfish. FishBase.

https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Coryphaena-hippurus.html

| The page says | The source says |
| :--- | :--- |
| Mostly bony fish, especially flying fish, plus squid and crustaceans. | also takes crustaceans and squid (note: diet) |
| The Florida Museum puts the world record at 87 pounds (39.5 kg), and FishBase lists a maximum length of 210 cm. | Max length : 210 cm TL |
| Mahi-mahi live near the surface, at depths of 0 to 85 m. | depth range 0 - 85 m |
| The 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. | 50°N - 40°S |
| FishBase lists a maximum length of 210 cm and a maximum published weight of 40 kg. | Max length : 210 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 9846 ); common length : 100.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 3390 ); max. published weight: 40.0 kg (note: FAQ) |
| A typical adult is far smaller, about 1 m long. | common length : 100.0 cm TL (note: FAQ) |