Taxonomy of Finfish (1+2)

3.3.9.1.6 Coryphaenidae (Dolphin fishes, Dolphins)

• Elongate compressed fishes
• Adult males develop a bony crest on front of head
• Lateral line curved upward above pectoral fin
• Dorsal and anal fins very long, continuing almost to caudal fin from dorsal fin
• Origin on nape

Eg. Coryphaena hippurus

Similar Families

No other fishes have a combination of characters – dorsal fin from nape to caudal fin / anal fin from mid-point of body to caudal fin / no sharp spines in dorsal fin and anal fin / caudal fin deeply forked.