Description: A large oceanic billfish. Body fairly deep, elongate, not strongly compressed. Upper jaw prolonged into a stout spear, round in cross-section. Dorsal head profile quite steep. Two dorsal fins; the first one long, with high anterior lobe, but not higher than body depth; second dorsal fin small. Two separate anal fins. Pelvic fins shorter than pectoral fins. Lateral line system reticulate (a feature which is poorly visible in large specimens). Two keels on each side of caudal peduncle; caudal fin large and strongly forked. Dark blue to brown dorsally; silvery white ventrally. First dorsal fin membrane dark blue, usually unspotted; other fins dark brown. Several vertical bars on the body consisting of pale blue spots.
Global Distribution: Atlantic Ocean, in tropical, subtropical and temperate waters. View Map
BIOLOGICAL FEATURES
Size: Maximum length: 500 cm (total length); common length: 290 cm (TL); maximum published weight: 636.0 kg.
Maturity: Maturity reached at about 80 cm in males and 50 cm in females.
Behavioural ecology: Usually solitary. Feed during the daytime.
Population structure & migrations: Highly migratory species.
ECOLOGICAL FEATURES
Depth range: FishBase: 0 - 200 m
Habitat: Pelagic, oceanic species.
Feeding habits: Feeds mainly on fish; also cephalopods.
Trophic level: FishBase: 4.5.
FISHERIES
Commercial interest: Commercial species. Important gamefish in the region.
Conservation status: Vulnerable.
Nutritional information & food safety:
REFERENCES
Carpenter K.E., ed. (2002). The living marine resources of the Western Central Atlantic. Volume 3: Bony fishes part 2 (Opistognathidae to Molidae), sea turtles and marine mammals. FAO Species Identification Guide for Fishery Purposes and American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists Special Publication No. 5. FAO, Rome, pp. 1375-2127.
Hureau J.-C., ed. (1984-1985). Fishes of the North-Eastern Atlantic and the Mediterranean. UNESCO. Accessed through: Marine Species Identification Portal. World Wide Web electronic publication. http://species-identification.org (2014).
IUCN (2014). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2014.1. www.iucnredlist.org
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 Fisheries Synopses, 125 vol.5, 65 pp.
