Common Dolphin Fish

Dinurus Infestation. Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.)

Charopinopsis Disease. Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.)

Elytrophora Infestation. Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.)

Euryphorous Disease. Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.)

Pseudocycnus Infestation. Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.)

Eutyphis Disease. Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.)

Caligus Infestation 2. Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.)

Dinurus Disease. Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.)

Tentacularia Disease of Coryphaena. Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.)

Livoneca Infestation. Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.)

Dinurus Infestation 2. Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.)

Hirudinella Infestation. Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.)

Hysterothylacium Infection 1. Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.)

Rhadinorhycyus Infestation 2. Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.)

In East African waters, spawning season may last from March to early June and spawning occurs inshore. In the western Pacific, sex ratios were about equal during spawning season. Spawning in the western Atlantic occurs over an extended period of time.Spawn naturally in captivity without artificial inducement (Ref. 41779).

Oceanodromous. Migrating within oceans typically between spawning and different feeding areas, as tunas do. Migrations should be cyclical and predictable and cover more than 100 km.

Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 58 - 66; Analspines: 0; Analsoft rays: 25 - 31; Vertebrae: 31

Found in open waters but also near the coast (Ref. 9293, 11230). Forms schools. Piscivore (Ref. 39061, 46174). An analysis of stomach contents (Ref. 6859) suggests that feeding is round the clock. Dolphins tend to be closely associated with Sargassum communities as well as with floating and drifting objects on the high seas. In eastern Caribbean, diet varies with season, and mysids are a very important component from October to December (Ref. 39061). Diet also varies slightly with predator size (small dolphinfish eat fewer flyingfish and more squid than larger sized dolphinfish), and with sex (males take proportionally more of the active fast swimming species such as flyingfish, squid and dolphinfish than do females) (Ref. 39061).

Branchiella Disease. Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.)

This species is distinguished by having the following characters: mature males with prominent bony crest in front of the head; greatest body depth in adults less than 25% of standard length; tooth patch on tongue small and oval; single dorsal fin extending from above eye almost to caudal fin with 58-66 rays; a concave anal fin extending from anus almost to caudal fin; pectoral fin more than half of head length; lateral-line scales at least 200 (Ref. 9648). Colour of body metallic blue-green on the back (fading to grey with green tinge when dead), sides silver with golden sheen, and 1 row of dark spots or golden blotches running below dorsal fin and 1, 2, or more rows on and below lateral line, some scattered irregularly; dorsal and anal finsblack, the latter with a white edge; pectoral fins pale; caudal fin silvery with a golden sheen; in juveniles, only tips of caudal-fin lobes white, pelvic fins black (Ref. 9648).

Contracaecum Disease. Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.)

Lernacenicus Disease. Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.)

Capsula Disease. Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.)

Bathycotyl Disease. Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.)

Skinfluke Disease. Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.)

Dinurus Disease. Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.)

Hirudinella Disease. Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.)

Stepanostomum Disease. Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.)

Tetrochetus Infestation. Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.)

Anilocara Disease. Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.)

Idothea Disease. Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.)

Dibothriorhynchus Infestation. Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.)

Plerocercoides Disease. Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.)

Rhadinorhycyus Infestation. Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.)

Caligus Infestation 1. Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.)

Adults are found in open waters but also near the coast (Ref. 9293, 11230). Form schools. Feed on almost all forms of fish and zooplankton; also takes crustaceans and squid (Ref. 2850). Sexual maturity is reached in 4-5 months (3 for captive fish) (Ref. 11441). Spawn in the open sea and probably approximate to the coast when water temperature rises (Ref. 9293). Eggs and larvae are pelagic (Ref. 6755). 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 (Ref. 9987) and fresh and is of high value (Ref. 9293). Caught by trolling and on tuna longlines; also occasionally with drift nets (Ref. 9846).

fisheries: highly commercial; aquaculture: commercial; gamefish: yes; price category: high; price reliability: reliable: based on ex-vessel price for this species