• English Name : Pompano dolphinfish
  • Local Name : Aila
  • Size : Common to 50 cm; max. 75 cm
  • Family : Order : Specimen
  • Distinctive Characters: Single dorsal fin usually with 52-59 rays. Anal fin with 23-29 rays. Pectoral with 18-21 rays. Body depth more than 25 per cent of standard length. Anal fin with convex outline. Pectoral fin about half of head length.
    Colour: Back metallic blue-green in life. Grey after death. Sides silvery with black spots. Juveniles with white edged caudal fin.
  • Habitat and Biology: Pelagic, inhabits in open waters but also approaches the coasts. Probably resembles C. hipppurus in following ships and forming aggregations. Feeds on small fishes and squids.
  • Distribution: Oceanic, in most tropical and sub-tropical waters.
  • Remarks: Coryphaena equiselis is much rarer than, but so similar to C. hippurus (next page) that it has probably been confused with that species. C. hippurus has a more elongated body (less than 25 per cent of standard length) and its pectoral fin is longer than half its head length.
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Biodiversity of Maldives
Biodiversity of Maldives