lauttimur.com - The mahi-mahi, which is also commonly referred to as dorado and the common dolphinfish, is a medium-sized epipelagic fish of the family Coryphaenidae. It occurs in tropical, subtropical, and temperate waters around the oceans of the world including the Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian Oceans.

Mahi-mahi is considered one of the most beautiful ocean fish because of its shimmery, vivid colors. The fish is very popular for sport and commercial fishing and has white meat with a firm, moist texture, a sweet, mild flavor, a variety of recipes, and several health benefits. Its name is sometimes confused with Ahi, the Hawaiian word for yellowfin tuna.

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The mahi-mahi has a distinct appearance, with a long, tall, and narrow body and a blunt head and mouth. They normally grow to around 13 kg and 1 meter in length and are also distinguishable by their spectacular coloring. On their flanks, they are mostly a golden-yellow color with iridescent blue pectoral fins. Some individuals are spotted blue around their heads as well. They have a large, sail-like dorsal fin and a relatively large caudal or tail fin.

Mahi-mahi can be found throughout the world, particularly in tropical, subtropical, and temperate waters. They are commonly observed in Hawaii, throughout Central America and Mexico, as well as much of the Indian Ocean.

They are epipelagic, spending most of their time offshore and relatively near the surface. Although they are known to dive to depths nearing 300 m, they can typically be found in the 30 m nearest to the surface.

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Mahi-mahi are predatory fish. They rely on their speed and their large mouths to capture various prey species including small fish. They will also hunt cephalopods such as squid and cuttlefish as well as various crustaceans. Juveniles in particular are also known to feed on zooplankton, small animals floating the oceans at the whim of the currents.

In turn, mahi-mahi are also on the menu for other marine predators. Large tuna species such as the yellowfin tuna and bluefin tuna will hunt virtually any fish within the right size range, including young mahi-mahi.

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