Teleostei (teleosts) >
Carangiformes (Jacks) >
Istiophoridae (Billfishes)
Etymology: Istiophorus: Greek, istios = sail + Greek, pherein = to carry (Ref. 45335).
More on author: Shaw.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Short description
Morphology | Morphometrics
Dorsal
spines
(total): 0;
Dorsal
soft rays
(total): 47-53;
Anal
spines: 2;
Anal
soft rays: 12 - 15. This species is distinguished by the following characters: slender elongate and fairly compressed with a high, sail-like first dorsal fin; upper jaw prolonged into a very long beak, slender and round in cross-section; jaws and palatines with villiform teeth; no gill rakers; two dorsal fins, the first very large (42-49 rays) the second small (6-7 rays); pectoral fins 18-20 rays; pelvic fins I, 2 soft rays fused together, very long and narrow, depressible into a groove; caudal peduncle with double keels on each side; body covered with small, embedded scales with 1 or 2 blunt points. Colour of back dark with about 20 bluish vertical bars; belly pale silver; membrane of first dorsal fin blue- black with numerous dark spots; bases of first and second anal fins often tinged with silvery white; remaining fins blackish brown or dark blue (Ref. 43, 26938).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Nakamura, I., 1985. FAO species catalogue. Vol. 5. Billfishes of the world. An annotated and illustrated catalogue of marlins, sailfishes, spearfishes and swordfishes known to date. FAO Fish. Synop. 125(5):65p. Rome: FAO. (Ref. 43)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435)
Human uses
More information
Common namesSynonymsMetabolismPredatorsEcotoxicologyReproductionMaturitySpawningSpawning aggregationFecundityEggsEgg development
Age/SizeGrowthLength-weightLength-lengthLength-frequenciesMorphometricsMorphologyLarvaeLarval dynamicsRecruitmentAbundanceBRUVS
ReferencesAquacultureAquaculture profileStrainsGeneticsElectrophoresesHeritabilityDiseasesProcessingNutrientsMass conversion
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Estimates based on models
Preferred temperature (Ref.
123201): 18.2 - 27.7, mean 25.6 °C (based on 513 cells).
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 0.7505 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.00589 (0.00276 - 0.01257), b=3.14 (2.94 - 3.34), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this species & (Sub)family-body (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 4.5 ±0.3 se; based on diet studies.
Prior r = 0.28, 95% CL = 0.16 - 0.49, Based on 3 stock assessments.
Nutrients (Ref.
124155): Calcium = 26.2 [12.9, 42.4] mg/100g; Iron = 0.856 [0.511, 1.406] mg/100g; Protein = 19.6 [18.4, 20.6] %; Omega3 = 0.209 [0.114, 0.374] g/100g; Selenium = 44.7 [23.7, 83.1] μg/100g; VitaminA = 6.44 [2.15, 18.92] μg/100g; Zinc = 0.364 [0.257, 0.521] mg/100g (wet weight);