Common dolphinfish (Coryphaena hippurus)

Scientific name: Coryphaena hippurus Linnaeus, 1758

The Common dolphinfish (Coryphaena hippurus) is a brackish-water fish of the family Coryphaenidae. In the aquarium it needs water at 21–30°C (70–86°F). Native range: Atlantic, Indian and Pacific, in tropical and subtropical waters. Highly migratory species, Annex I of the 1982 Convention on the Law of the Sea.

Common dolphinfish care at a glance

Temperature: 21–30°C (70–86°F)

Biology

Found in open waters but also near the coast. Forms schools. Feeds on almost all forms of fish and zooplankton; also takes crustaceans and squid. Sexual maturity is reached in 4-5 months (3 for captive fish). Spawns in the open sea and probably approximate to the coast when water temperature rises. Eggs and larvae are pelagic. Attracting devices such as floating bundles of bamboo reeds or cork planks are used to concentrate dolphin fish before the nets are set. Marketed frozen and fresh and is of high value.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name: Coryphaena hippurus
Family: Coryphaenidae (Dolphinfishes)
Order: Perciformes (Perch-like fish)
Class: Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length: 210
Common length: 100.0
Depth range: 0–85 m (0–279 ft)
Environment: Marine; brackish; pelagic-neritic; oceanodromous; depth range 0 - 85 m, usually 5 - 10 m
Climate: Subtropical
Distribution: Atlantic, Indian and Pacific: in tropical and subtropical waters. Highly migratory species, Annex I of the 1982 Convention on the Law of the Sea.
Conservation status (IUCN): Least Concern (LC)
Threat to humans: Reports of ciguatera poisoning
Uses: Fisheries: highly commercial; aquaculture: commercial; gamefish: yes
Resilience: High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (K=0.4-1.2; tm

Sources

Taxonomy, distribution and biology data: FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly, eds.), licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Last updated 27 September 2026