Description:

Dorsal spines: 0; Dorsal rays: 58-66; Anal spines: 0; Anal rays: 25-31.

Body elongate and compressed, body depth  increasing with age. Young fish (up to 30 cm) have a slender, elongate body with head profile slightly convex. In larger males 
(30 to 200 cm) the head profile becomes increasingly vertical with development of a bony crest. Bands of teeth on jaws, vomer and palatines roof of mouth. Tooth patch on 
tongue small and oval. A single dorsal fin extending from above eye to near caudal fin. Anal fin concave, extending from anus to near caudal fin. Caudal fin deeply forked.

Colour. Variably and brilliantly coloured fish. Iridescent bluish-green above, silvery-golden below with small dark spots on sides, dorsal fin dark green to deep blue; 
other fins usually yellow to orange. Colour fades rapidly after death. 

Maturity: Lm unknown. Range unknown. Max Length: 210cm TL. Commonly to 100cm TL. 
 

Pelagic, inhabiting open waters, but also approaches the coast (depth 0-85m, usually 5-10m). Forms schools. Feed on almost all forms of fish and zooplankton; also takes 
crustaceans and squid. Spawn in the open sea and probably proximate to the coast when water temperature rises. Eggs and larvae are pelagic. In East African waters, spawning 
season may last from March to early June and spawning occurs inshore. In tropical regions spawning likely occurs year round.

This species is not protected or subject to fishery regulations. It is caught primarily by trolling. It is a regular but not numerous component of the catch. 
Follows ships and forms small concentrations below floating objects and prone to FAD fishing techniques.

Bray, D.J. Coryphaena hippurus in Fishes of Australia, http://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/1730 (19/06/19).
Collette, B. (2011). Coryphaena hippurus. The IUCN Red List 2011: http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2011-2.RLTS.T154712A4614989.en. (19/06/19).
Fischer, W. & G. Bianchi (eds), (1984).  FAO species identification sheets for fishery purposes. Western Indian Ocean; (Fishing Area 51). Prepared and printed with the 
support of the Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA). Rome, Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations, vols 1-6.
Froese, R. & D. Pauly. (Eds.) (2019). FishBase. https://www.fishbase.de/summary/6 (19/06/19).
 

Nevill, J.E.G. (2019). Coryphaena hippurus, Common dolphinfish. Seychelles Seatizens. www.seatizens.sc. https://seatizens.sc/species/coryphaena-hippurus-linnaeus-1758/ (edited 02/07/22).