| Scientific name: Tetrapturus pfluegeri |
| Nome comum: Espadim-águia; Espadim-bicudo; Peto |
| Common name: Longbill spearfish |
| Classification: CHORDATA > ACTINOPTERYGII > Perciformes > Istiophoridae |
| Description: An oceanic billfish. Body elongate, slender and laterally compressed. Upper jaw prolonged into a long slender bill, round in cross-section. Upper head profile rising smoothly to the dorsal fin origin. Two dorsal fins; the first one long, higher than body height in the anterior part and moderately high throughout its length; the second small. Two separate anal fins. Pelvic fins equal to or slightly longer than pectoral fins in length. Has two keels on each side of the caudal peduncle. Caudal fin strongly forked. Dark blue dorsally; brownish silvery white laterally, and silvery white ventrally. Dorsal, pelvic and first anal fins dark blue; other fins dark brown. |
Global Distribution: Atlantic Ocean: widely distributed in offshore waters, much more densely so in the western than in the eastern Atlantic.
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| BIOLOGICAL FEATURES |
| Size: Maximum length 254 cm (fork length); common length 165 cm; maximum published weight: 58.0 kg. |
| Age: |
| Weight length rel.: |
| Growth type: |
| von Bertallanfy growth parameters: |
| Reproduction: Females probably spawn once a year. |
| Maturity: |
| Behavioural ecology: |
| Population structure & migrations: Highly migratory species. |
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| ECOLOGICAL FEATURES |
| Depth range: FishBase: 0 - 200 m. |
| Habitat: Oceanic species, chiefly found in offshore waters, usually above the thermocline. |
| Feeding habits: Feeds mainly on pelagic fishes and squids. |
| Trophic level: FishBase: 4.3 |
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| FISHERIES |
| Commercial interest: Minor commercial species. Valued as gamefish. |
| Conservation status: Least concern. |
| Nutritional information & food safety: |
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| 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.
Froese, R., Pauly D., editors (2011) .FishBase. World Wide Web electronic publication. www.fishbase.org, (07/2014). www.fishbase.org/summary/Tetrapturus-pfluegeri.html
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. |
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