biomedicalephemera:

When is a dolphin not a dolphin? When it’s a dolphinfish (Coryphaena hippurus)!

The dolphinfish is more commonly known as the mahi-mahi or dorado these days, and is a common fish in traditional dishes of many Caribbean and Polynesian dishes. It dwells in warm waters less than 120 feet deep, and aside from a few isolated areas of concern, has healthy populations around the world.

The name “mahi-mahi” means “very strong” in Hawaiian, and the name “dorado” means “golden” in Spanish. These fish often have a striking golden sheen when alive, though they fade to a dull yellow-grey after death.

Arcana: Or, The Museum of Natural History; Containing the Most Recent Discovered Objects. George Perry, 1811.