Dolphin / Mahi Mahi?

Question

i know the difference between the two, one is mammal, one is fish...they don't look anything alike, etc.....

but WHY is the mahi-mahi called a "dolphin-fish" ?

Answer 1

Because it sometimes swims with dolphins
http://www.novafish.com/pages/mahi.html

Answer 2

Way back when folks were finding out about the world, identifying and naming animals, someone first discovered a fish and called it dolphin. Someone later came along and called a porpoise by that same name. Note, both are common names. The fish name actually is more correct that naming a marine mammal a dolphin, but it still is used, mostly because regular people use it. Among biologist the common names are rarely used. Instead the scientific name is used, and there is no problem telling which you are talking about.

Mahi mahi is the name given to the fish we called dolphin, by the native people of the Pacific areas. It is also the name that those selling and marketing the fish use.

http://marinefisheries.org/FishID/dolphin.html
http://www.ocean.udel.edu/mas/seafood/mahi.html
http://www.sandiegozoo.org/animalbytes/t-dolphin.html

I personally think the common name dolphin should be used only with the fish.

Answer 3

Mahi Mahi is dolphin fish. Not the mammal porpoise kind of dolphin. It is a fish. FISH. Sorry, but I have put up with so many people who don't understand that the dolphin fish or Mahi Mahi is not that cute trained porpoise at Sea World.

Answer 4

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Mahi mahi is also known as dolphin fish, hence the confusion. Dolphin fish is NOT dolphin. Dolphins are mammals, and are protected from being fished/hunted. Mahi mahi is a white fish, with a firm texture and mild flavor, great for grilling. They are usually found in the temperate waters of the pacific. Hope this helps.

Answer 5

It is just that different areas call it different things. Kinda like how puma can be called a mt lion, cougar, catamount, etc, etc, etc.

Answer 6

Perhaps they both taste the same.