English Name: Pompano dolphinfish
Family: CORYPHAENIDAE
Local Name: Aila
Order: Perciformes
Size: Common to 50cm; max. 75 cm
Specimen: MRS/01 18/87
Distinctive Characters: Single dorsal fin usually with 52-59 rays. Anal fin with 23-29 rays. Pectoral with 18-21 rays. Body depth more than 25% of standard length. Anal fin withconvex outline. Pectoral fin about half of head length.
Colour: Back metallic blue-green in life. Grey after death. Sides silvery with black spots. Juveniles with white edged caudal fin.
Habitat and Biology: Pelagic, inhabits in open waters but also approaches the coasts. Probably resembles C. hipppurus in following ships and forming aggregations. Feeds on small fishes and squids.
Distribution: Oceanic, in most tropical and subtropical waters.
Remarks: Coryphaena equiselis is much rarer than, but so similar to C. hippurus that it has probably been confused with that species. C. hippurus has a more elongatedbody (less than 25% of standard length) and its pectoral fin is Yonger than half its head length.