Pompano dolphinfish

Pompano dolphinfish
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Perciformes
Family: Coryphaenidae
Genus: Coryphaena
Species: C. equiselis
Binomial name
Coryphaena equiselis
Linnaeus, 1758
Synonyms
  • Coryphaena equisetis Osbeck, 1765 (Ambiguous name)
  • Coryphaena aurata Rafinesque, 1810
  • Coryphaena azorica Valenciennes, 1833
  • Lampugus neapolitanus Valenciennes, 1833
  • Coryphaena lessonii Valenciennes, 1833
  • Lampugus punctulatus Valenciennes, 1833


The pompano dolphinfish (Coryphaena equiselis) is a species of surface-dwelling ray-finned fish found in tropical and subtropical waters. They are one of only two members of the Coryphaenidae family, the other being the mahi-mahi or common dolphinfish.[2]

Pompano dolphinfish have a lifespan of three to four years. They are often mistaken for juvenile mahi-mahi; they are somewhat smaller than their mahi-mahi cousins, only reaching a maximum length of 127 centimetres (50 in) TL. Pompano dolphinfish have compressed heads and dorsal fins extending the entire length of their bodies. Their backs are a brilliant blue-green, and their sides are a silvery-golden color. Mature males develop a protruding forehead, but not to the same extent as male mahi-mahi. When they are removed from the water, the fish fade to a muted green-grey upon death.[2]


Despite the similar names, this fish is not related to the marine mammals also known as dolphins (family Delphinidae). See Coryphaena for the possible etymologies of "dolphinfish".

Pompano dolphinfish are carnivorous, feeding primarily on small fish and squid.[2]

Pompano dolphinfish are popular as a game fish in the waters off South America, and are sometimes eaten as a substitute for swordfish because of their firm texture and sweet flavour.

References

  1. ↑ Collette, B., Acero, A., Amorim, A.F., Boustany, A., Canales Ramirez, C., Cardenas, G., Carpenter, K.E., de Oliveira Leite Jr., N., Di Natale, A., Fox, W., Fredou, F.L., Graves, J., Viera Hazin, F.H., Juan Jorda, M., Minte Vera, C., Miyabe, N., Montano Cruz, R., Nelson, R., Oxenford, H., Schaefer, K., Serra, R., Sun, C., Teixeira Lessa, R.P., Pires Ferreira Travassos, P.E., Uozumi, Y. & Yanez, E. 2011. Coryphaena equiselis. In: IUCN 2012. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2012.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 23 June 2013.
  2. 1 2 3 Froese, Rainer and Pauly, Daniel, eds. (2013). "Coryphaena equiselis" in FishBase. April 2013 version.
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