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what kind of fish is mahi-mahi

Mahi-mahi is a fast-swimming oceanic fish called the common dolphinfish, not a dolphin or tuna.

Quick Scoop

  • Scientific name: Coryphaena hippurus (common dolphinfish).
  • Type of fish: Surface-dwelling, ray-finned, pelagic saltwater fish.
  • Habitat: Warm tropical and subtropical oceans worldwide, often offshore near floating seaweed like Sargassum.
  • Other names: Dolphinfish, dorado (Spanish for “golden”), mahimahi or mahi-mahi.
  • Appearance: Bright golden sides with blue-green back and iridescent fins; colors fade quickly after it’s caught.
  • Relation to dolphins: No relation at all—“dolphinfish” is just a traditional name based on its body shape, but it is a true fish.

As food

  • Flesh: Firm, lean, mild and slightly sweet; usually white or grey-white when raw, turning white when cooked.
  • Common uses: Grilled, seared, baked, or used in tacos and sandwiches because it holds together well.

In short: mahi-mahi is a brightly colored pelagic dolphinfish, a ray-finned saltwater species popular both with sport fishers and in seafood dishes.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.