Details
Coryphaena hippurus
The mahi-mahi is a vivid open-ocean fish of the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific oceans. Active across day and night, it often travels in loose groups around current lines and floating objects.
Map: Ecoregions 2017 © RESOLVE (CC BY 4.0) · Natural Earth (PD)
It favors warm surface waters offshore, especially near driftwood, floating algae, and other flotsam. It may approach coasts, but it is mainly a fish of open water.
Length is about 80-210 cm and weight about 5-40 kg. Bright green, blue, and gold colors, a long dorsal fin, and a high forehead in adults make it distinctive.
Fast swimming lets it patrol surface waters and rush prey. Fish gather loosely where currents concentrate food, and body colors can shift with excitement.
It is carnivorous, taking small fish, squid, and crustaceans. Floating objects attract prey, and mahi-mahi use speed to chase them down.
Spawning occurs in warm seas, with eggs and larvae drifting in surface waters. Young grow quickly while using offshore feeding areas.
Its status is listed as Least Concern. Its broad oceanic range offers resilience, but local catches and changes around floating habitats can still matter.
