We're all familiar with the dolphinfish (Coryphaena hippurus), known globally by other names such as the mahi-mahi and dorado, but what do we actually know about how they show their love?
Mahi-mahi will form a ride or die relationship, being one of the rare occurences in the animal kingdom where species couple up for life. Often traveling in pairs, they help each other in hunting and staying safe in the open water. Does it get any more romantic than that?
Speaking of mating, these fish can spawn every 2-3 days in spawning season, and produce millions of eggs in their lifetime. Absolute legends of the game.
Last week, during our tagging expedition to track the species' movements, we tagged majority female dolphins. They had many bull (male) dolphins trailing close behind, and I could have sworn as we tagged a male I overheard him calling out to his female companion:
Queen Snappers are red,
Some surgeonfish are blue,
I'm Gill-ty of being in love with you.
With love, from Fisheries
Cover photo credit: Patrick Vant