Common dolphinfish :

EnglishName: Common dolphinfish
Local Name : Fiyala
Size : Common to 1 m; max. 2 m
Family: Order : Specimen
Distinctive Characters: Single dorsal fin usually with 58-67 rays. Anal fin with 25-30 rays. Pectoral with 17-20 rays. Body depth less than 25 per cent of standard length. Body elongate and compressed. Anal fin with concave outline. Pectoral fin more than half of head length.
Colour: Back brilliant metallic blue-green, shading to golden yellow ventrally with scattered iridescent blue- green spots. Dorsal fin deep blue-green. Caudal, anal and pelvic fins mainly yellow. Brilliant colours fade to silvery grey with black spots and dark fins soon after death.
Habitat and Biology: Pelagic, inhabits in open waters but also approaches the coasts. Follow ships and forms aggregations below floating objects. Feeds mainly on fish, but also crustaceans and squids.
Distribution: Circumtropical.
Remarks: Coryphaena hippurus is much more common and larger than the closely related C. equiselis (previous page). The common dolphinfish is a renowned game fish caught mainly by trolling a lure near the surface.

Search