Difference between revisions of "Sailfish" - New World Encyclopedia

From New World Encyclopedia
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===Atlantic sailfish===
 
===Atlantic sailfish===
 
(''Istiophorus albicans'').
 
(''Istiophorus albicans'').
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{{Taxobox
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| name = Atlantic sailfish
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| regnum = [[Animal]]ia
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| phylum = [[Chordate|Chordata]]
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| classis = [[Actinopterygii]]
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| ordo = [[Perciformes]]
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| familia = [[Istiophoridae]]
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| genus = ''[[Istiophorus]]''
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| genus_authority = [[Bernard Germain Étienne comte de La Ville-sur-Illon La Cépède|Lacépède]], 1801
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| species = '''''I. albicans'''''
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| binomial = ''Istiophorus albicans''
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| range_map=
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| range_map_caption=
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| binomial_authority = ([[Pierre André Latreille|Latreille]], 1804)
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}}
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The '''Atlantic sailfish''', ''Istiophorus albicans'', is a [[species]] of [[sea water|marine]] [[fish]] in the [[family (biology)|family]] [[Istiophoridae]] of the [[order (biology)|order]] [[Perciformes]]. It is found in the [[Atlantic Ocean]]s and the [[Caribbean Sea]], except for large areas of the central [[North Atlantic]] and the central [[South Atlantic]], from the surface to depths of 200 [[metre|m]].
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Length is up to 3.15 m, and the maximum published weight is 58.1 [[kilogram|kg]].
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===Indo-Pacific sailfish===
 
===Indo-Pacific sailfish===
 
(''Istiophorus platypterus'').
 
(''Istiophorus platypterus'').
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* {{ITIS|ID=550888|taxon=Istiophorus albicans|year=2006|date=6 June}}
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* {{FishBase species | genus = Istiophorus | species = albicans | month = January | year = 2006}}
  
 
==References==
 
==References==

Revision as of 02:39, 22 May 2008

This article is about the fish. For the submarines, see USS Sailfish.
Sailfishes
Fossil range: Middle Miocene to Present[1]
Indo-Pacific sailfish, Istiophorus platypterus
Indo-Pacific sailfish, Istiophorus platypterus
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Perciformes
Family: Istiophoridae
Genus: Istiophorus
Lacépède, 1801
Species

2, see text

Sailfish are two species of fishes in the genus Istiophorus, living in warmer sections of all the oceans of the world. They are blue to gray in color and have a characteristic sail (dorsal fin) which often stretches the entire length of the back. Another notable characteristic is the elongated bill, resembling that of the swordfish and other marlins.

Description

Both species of sailfishes grow quickly, reaching 1.2-1.5 m (4-5 ft) in length in a single year, and feed on the surface or at mid-depths on smaller pelagic fishes and squid. Individuals have been clocked at speeds of up to 110 km/h (68 mph), which is the highest speed reliably reported in a fish.[2] Generally, sailfish do not grow to more than 3 m (10 ft) in length and rarely weigh over 90 kg (200 lb), although larger specimens have been seen off the shores of Costa Rica.[citation needed]

The sail is normally kept folded down and to the side when swimming, but it may be raised when the sailfish feels threatened or excited, making the fish appear much larger than it actually is. This tactic has also been observed during feeding, when a group of sailfish use their sails to "herd" a school of fish or squid.

Sailfish are highly prized game fish and are known for their incredible jumps.

Species

Atlantic sailfish

(Istiophorus albicans).

Atlantic sailfish
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Perciformes
Family: Istiophoridae
Genus: Istiophorus
Lacépède, 1801
Species: I. albicans
Binomial name
Istiophorus albicans
(Latreille, 1804)

The Atlantic sailfish, Istiophorus albicans, is a species of marine fish in the family Istiophoridae of the order Perciformes. It is found in the Atlantic Oceans and the Caribbean Sea, except for large areas of the central North Atlantic and the central South Atlantic, from the surface to depths of 200 m.

Length is up to 3.15 m, and the maximum published weight is 58.1 kg.


Indo-Pacific sailfish

(Istiophorus platypterus).


References
ISBN links support NWE through referral fees

  1. Sepkoski, Jack (2002). A compendium of fossil marine animal genera. Bulletins of American Paleontology 364: p.560.
  2. Haulin' Bass - elasmo-research.org. Accessed March 19, 2008
  • "Istiophorus". FishBase. Ed. Ranier Froese and Daniel Pauly. March 2008 version. N.p.: FishBase, 2008.

External links

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