Sailfish
- This article is about the fish. For the submarines, see USS Sailfish.
Sailfishes
| ||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Indo-Pacific sailfish, Istiophorus platypterus
| ||||||||||||
Scientific classification | ||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||
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.
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).
- Indo-Pacific sailfish (Istiophorus platypterus).
ReferencesISBN links support NWE through referral fees
- ↑ Sepkoski, Jack (2002). A compendium of fossil marine animal genera. Bulletins of American Paleontology 364: p.560.
- ↑ 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
Credits
New World Encyclopedia writers and editors rewrote and completed the Wikipedia article in accordance with New World Encyclopedia standards. This article abides by terms of the Creative Commons CC-by-sa 3.0 License (CC-by-sa), which may be used and disseminated with proper attribution. Credit is due under the terms of this license that can reference both the New World Encyclopedia contributors and the selfless volunteer contributors of the Wikimedia Foundation. To cite this article click here for a list of acceptable citing formats.The history of earlier contributions by wikipedians is accessible to researchers here:
The history of this article since it was imported to New World Encyclopedia:
Note: Some restrictions may apply to use of individual images which are separately licensed.