Istiophorus platypterus (Shaw, 1792)

Indo-pacific sailfish

Species recognized by FishBase external link, R Froese & D Pauly (eds) in 
IUCN Red List Status: NOT EVALUATED external link Showing: scientific names

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Istiophorus platypterus (Shaw, 1792)

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Istiophorus platypterus (Shaw in Shaw and Nodder, 1792)
Istiophorus platypterus (Shaw in Shaw and Nodder, 1792)
Istiophorus platypterus (Shaw, 1792)
Istiophorus platypterus (Shaw, 1792)
Istiophorus platypterus (Shaw, 1792)
Istiophorus platypterus (Shaw, 1792)
Istiophorus platypterus
Istiophorus platypterus
Tetrapturus albidus

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Table of Contents

General Description

Description

Source and Additional Information
Supplier
Shorefishes of the Tropical Eastern Pacific Online Information System external link
Copyright
© Copyright 2008 to 2009 - Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute. Some rights reserved external link
Author
Shaw, G. in Shaw & Nodder
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Common names: sailfish (English), pez-vela (Espanol)
 
Istiophorus platypterus (Shaw in Shaw & Nodder, 1792)


Sailfish


Body fairly compressed; bill long, slender, rounded in cross section; adults with small teeth; 1st  dorsal long based, sail like, much higher than body depth, close to 2nd  dorsal, 1st  42-49 rays, 2nd  6-7 rays; pectorals long and pointed, 18-20 rays; pelvic fins very long, depressible into a groove, reach almost to anus; 2 anal fins, 1st  12-17 rays, 2nd  6-7 rays; 2 keels on side of tail base; tail fin large, strongly forked; body covered with small, triangular scales.


Dark blue dorsally, light blue blotched with brown laterally, and silvery white ventrally; ~ 20 rows of vertical bars on sides, each composed of many light blue round spots; membrane of first dorsal fin dark blue or blackish blue, with scattered, small black spots; remaining fins blackish brown to dark blue.

Size: grows to 360 cm; all-tackle world record 100.24 Kg.

Habitat: coastal and oceanic pelagic.

Depth: 0-30 m.

Circumtropical in tropical and temperate seas; southern California to the lower 3/4 of the Gulf of California to Peru and the oceanic islands.

Note: Other than the fact that Indo-Pacific fish reach a larger size than Atlantic fish (100kg vs 60kg) there are no morphological differences between the two (see Collette et al 2006).

Biology

Source and Additional Information
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FishBase external link
Copyright
Some rights reserved external link
Recorder
Susan M. Luna
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Oceanic and epipelagic species usually found above the thermocline. Most densely distributed in waters close to coasts and islands (Ref. 9688). Most likely schools by size. Undergoes spawning migrations in the Pacific (Ref. 43). Feeds mainly on fishes, crustaceans and cephalopods. Utilized fresh, smoked and frozen; also used for sashimi and sushi; eaten broiled and baked (Ref. 9987).
References
"Istiophorus platypterus (Shaw, 1792)". Encyclopedia of Life, available from "http://www.eol.org/pages/228441". Accessed 14 Mar 2010.