Coryphaene

The Common Coryphaene is one of the most impressive pelagic fish of warm seas. The English name "Dolphin fish" often causes confusion, even though the animal is purely a fish, not a mammal. Its most characteristic feature is the incredible, iridescent colours of the body, which are vivid while the fish is alive, including bright gold on the sides and deep green and electric blue on the back. Unfortunately, these colours fade almost immediately once the fish dies, and the body takes on a dull grey-silver hue.

There is intense sexual dimorphism in the shape of the head. Adult males, known as bulls, develop a massive vertical, almost square forehead, while females maintain a smoother, more curved profile.

This is a purely pelagic and migratory species that lives at the surface of the open sea. It has a particular affinity for floating objects such as wood, pallets, seaweed, or buoys, and it gathers in schools beneath them to seek food and protection. In the Mediterranean, it appears mainly during the warm months from the end of spring until autumn when the water temperature rises above 20 degrees Celsius.

The animal is a fast, voracious, and ruthless predator. Its diet is varied and includes almost anything that moves and fits in its mouth. It feeds mainly on surface fish such as flying fish, which it hunts even by jumping out of the water, along with sardines and anchovies, as well as squid and crustaceans.

Reproduction takes place in the open sea during the warm months. This is one of the fastest-growing fish in the world. The young grow at explosive rates and can reach sexual maturity within just 4 to 5 months from birth.

It is one of the most popular catches for sport fishing worldwide due to its fighting spirit and spectacular jumps when caught. In the region, it is caught mainly with surface trolling and surface longlines, especially near floating fish aggregation devices made from palm fronds that fishers build to gather the schools. The meat is white and firm, with a light flavour and excellent quality, making it ideal for grilling or eating raw in dishes like ceviche.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature classifies the Common Coryphaene as a species of Least Concern. Research in the Mediterranean has shown that populations are genetically homogeneous, indicating that fish move and mix throughout the entire basin. Furthermore, studies have confirmed its extremely short life cycle: most fish live only 2 to 3 years, yet reproduce many times, making the species resilient to fishing pressure.