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Istiophorus platypterus

(Atlantic Sailfish, bayonet Fish, Billfish, Indian Nese Sailfish, indian Sail Fish, indian Sailfish, indo-Pacifc Sailfish, indo-Pacific Sailfish, japanese Sailfish, pacific Sailfish, peacock Fish, sail Fish, sailfin, sailfish, sail-Fish)

Common Names

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Click on the language to view common names.

Common Names in Afrikaans:

Seilvis

Common Names in Arabic:

Faras, Kheil Al Bahar, Sansul

Common Names in Bikol:

Malasugi

Common Names in Bolinao:

Susay

Common Names in Carolinian:

Mwaralasho, Mwárenóró, Taghalar

Common Names in Cebuano:

Liplipan, Malasugi

Common Names in Chavacano:

Kandayan

Common Names in Creole, Fren:

Dyab Lavwal, Empereur Voilier

Common Names in Creole, French:

Dyab Lavwal, Empereur Voilier, Lemperyal

Common Names in Danish:

Pacifisk Sejlfisk, Stillehavssejlfisk

Common Names in Davawenyo:

Lip-Lipan, Liplipan

Common Names in English:

Atlantic Sailfish, Bayonet Fish, Billfish, Indian Nese Sailfish, Indian Sail Fish, Indian Sail-Fin Surgeonfish, Indian Sailfish, Indo-Pacifc Sailfish, Indo-Pacific Sailfish, Japanese Sailfish, Pacific Sailfish, Peacock Fish, Sail Fish, Sail-Fish, Sailfin, Sailfish

Common Names in Fijian:

Sa' U Laca, Sailfish

Common Names in Finnish:

Purjekala

Common Names in French:

Empereur éventail, Empereur éventail, Empereur L'éventail, Espadon Voilier, Voilier, Voilier De I'indo-Pacifique, Voilier Indo-Pacifique

Common Names in Gela:

Viluvilu

Common Names in German:

Fächerfisch, Fächerfisch, Indopazifischer Segelfisch, Pazifischer Fächerfisch, Pazifischer Segelfisch

Common Names in Gujarati:

Kunga, Tadmachhi

Common Names in Hawaiian:

A´u Lepe, A'u Lepe

Common Names in Hiligaynon:

Malasugi, Manumbok

Common Names in Ilokano:

Mantarompa, Susay

Common Names in Japanese:

Bashôkajiki, Bashôkajiki

Common Names in Javanese:

Klayar, Playaran

Common Names in Kiribati:

Te Iriri, Te Rakuriri

Common Names in Komoro:

M'bassi Kouri, M'bassi Maranga

Common Names in Korean:

Dot-Sae-Chi

Common Names in Mahl:

Fung-Hibaru

Common Names in Malagasy:

Androaro, Ndoaro, Ndwaro

Common Names in Malay:

Djangilus, Geulang Pajang, Hohoo Malays, Ikan Jegan, Ikan Laya, Ikan Layar, Jangilus, Landjareng, Layaran, Layarang, Layeran, Lijarang, Lkajar Plajaren, Mersuji, Panombuk, Stuji Stuji

Common Names in Malayalam:

Ola-Meen, Olameen

Common Names in Mandarin Chi:

Ha Shì Tái Wan Sha

Common Names in Mandarin Chinese:

平鰭旗魚, 東方旗魚, 灰旗魚, 破雨傘, 雨傘旗魚, 雨笠仔

Common Names in Maranao/Sama:

Kandayan, Kandelan

Common Names in Maranao/Samal/Tao Su:

Kandayan, Kandelan, Malasugue

Common Names in Marathi:

Tadmasa

Common Names in Marshallese:

Ujilleb

Common Names in Misima-Panea:

Bwagilum

Common Names in Misima-Paneati:

Bwagilum

Common Names in Niuean:

Haku Piu

Common Names in Norwegian:

Seilfisk

Common Names in Other:

Malakay

Common Names in Palauan:

Tekrar

Common Names in Pangasinan:

Dumosok, Susay

Common Names in Persian:

Badban-Mahi

Common Names in Polish:

Zaglica, Zaglica Pacyficzna

Common Names in Portuguese:

Veleiro

Common Names in Rapa:

A`urepe

Common Names in Russian:

парусник, Parusnik, Parusnik-Ryba

Common Names in Samoan:

Sa'ula-Lele

Common Names in Sinhalese:

Mylmeen, Thalapatha, Thalapathu

Common Names in Somali:

Daanbeeri

Common Names in Spanish:

Aguja De Abanico, Banderón, Pez Vela, Pez Vela Del Indo Pac, Pez Vela Del Indo-Pacífico, Pez Vela Del Pacífico, Pez Velo, Picudo Banderón, Velodor, Volador

Common Names in Surigaonon:

Lip-Lipan, Liplipan

Common Names in Swahili:

Mbassi, Nsuli Nsuli

Common Names in Swedish:

Segelfisk

Common Names in Tagalog:

Malasugi

Common Names in Tahitian:

Ha'urepe

Common Names in Tamil:

Mayilmeen, Myl Meennd, Yemungolah

Common Names in Tobian:

Moharechoh

Common Names in Tokelauan:

Tuaniu

Common Names in Tongan:

Hakula

Common Names in Tuvaluan:

Te Sakula

Common Names in Vietnamese:

Cá C?, Cá C? Bu?m

Common Names in Visayan:

Dogso, Liplipan, Malasugi

Common Names in Waray-waray:

Malasugi

Common Names in Wolof:

Dienou Doungue

Description

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Family Istiophoridae

Distribution: most tropical and subtropical waters. Premaxilla and nasal bones produced , forming a spear-like bill or rostrum with a rounded cross-section. Gill membranes not united to isthmus. Very narrow pelvic fins. Jaw teeth present. Two keels on each side of caudal peduncle in adults . Dorsal fin extending over much of body length ; sometimes resembling a sail. Dorsal fin can be depresssed into a groove . Lateral line persists in life. Vertebrae 24. Maximum length 4 m. Bill used for stunning prey fish. The morphological adaptations required for maintaining high brain and retinal temperatures are discussed in Brock et al. 1993 Science 260:210-214. Very popular as game fish .The family Istiophoridae belongs to the Class Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes ) and the Order Perciformes. It contains 3 genera and 11 species. It may be found in Marine environments and is primarily Marine. Members of this family are not used in the aquarium trade. Reproductively, most members of this family are nonguarders. The main mode of swimming of adult fish in this family is thunniform. Compared with other fish, the activity level of this family tends to be very active . Members of this family have been dated back to the Cretaceous period. Etymology of this family name : Greek, istion = sail + Greek, pherein = to carry

Physical Description

Species Istiophorus platypterus

Distinctive Features: The upper jaw is modified into a long bill which is circular in cross section . This upper jaw is approximately twice the length of the lower jaw. Two dorsal and anal fins are present. The first dorsal fin is large, much taller than the width of the body. This large fin runs most of the length of the body, with the longest ray being the 20th. The first anal fin is set far back on the body. Second dorsal and anal fins approximately mirror one another in size and shape . Both are short and concave . The pectoral and pelvic fins are long with the pelvic fins almost twice as long and nearly reaching the origin of the first anal fin. The pelvic fins have one spine and multiple soft rays fused together. A pair of grooves run along the ventral side of the body, into which the pelvic fins can be depressed . The caudal peduncle has double keels and caudal notchs on the upper and lower surfaces. The lateral line is readily visible.

In waters of the Pacific Ocean, the maximum size for the sailfish is recorded at 134 inches (340 cm) total length and around 220 pounds (100 kg ) in weight .

Color:

Body color is variable depending upon level of excitement. The body is dark blue dorsally and white with brown spots ventrally. About 20 bars , each consisting of many light blue dots, are present on each side. The fins are all generally blackish blue. The anal fin base is white. The first dorsal fin contains many small black dots, which are more common towards the anterior end of the fin .

Size/Age/Growth

The sailfish is one of the smaller members of the family Istiophoridae. The maximum size for the sailfish from the Atlantic region is 124 inches (340 cm) total length and around 128 pounds (100 kg ). The all-tackle record listed by International Game Fish Association (IGFA ) is (100 kg). In southern Florida, the fish tend to be smaller, generally between 68-90 inches (173-229 cm) total length. Commercial longline vessels in the Atlantic generally catch fish of 49-83 inches (125-210 cm) in length. The largest fish are usually females.

Habitat

Oceanic and epipelagic species usually found above the thermocline. Most densely distributed in waters close to coasts and islands (Ref. 9688).

The Atlantic sailfish swims in the surface epipelagic and oceanic waters. It generally remains above the thermocline, in water temperatures between 70° and 83°F (21° to 28° C). There is evidence that it also swims into deeper water. It is less oceanic than other billfishes , making frequent forays into nearshore water.

Typically found in water with a depth of 0 to -5,049 meters (0 to -16,565 feet).Mean = -2,134.310 meters (-7,002.329 feet), Standard Deviation = 1,575.260 based on 579 observations. Ocean depth information for each observation from British Oceanographic Data Centre.

Biome: Saltwater . Pelagic .

Biology

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Diet

Feeds mainly on fishes , crustaceans and cephalopods .

Migration

Undergoes spawning migrations in the Pacific (Ref. 43).

Behavior

Most likely schools by size.

Taxonomy

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Unambiguous Synonyms

  1. Histiophorus dubius Bleeker, 1873
  2. Histiophorus gladius (Bloch, 1793)
  3. Histiophorus immaculatus Rüppell, 1830
  4. Histiophorus indicus Cuvier, 1832
  5. Histiophorus orientalis Temminck & Schlegel, 1844
  6. Istiophorus amarui Curtiss, 1944
  7. Istiophorus brookei Fowler, 1933
  8. Istiophorus dubius Bleeker, 1873
  9. Istiophorus eriquius Jordan & Ball, 1926
  10. Istiophorus gladifer Lacepède, 1801
  11. Istiophorus gladius (Bloch, 1793)
  12. Istiophorus gladius subsp. greyi Jordan & Evermann, 1926
  13. Istiophorus gladus (Bloch, 1793)
  14. Istiophorus greyi Jordan & Evermann, 1926
  15. Istiophorus greyii Jordan & Evermann, 1926
  16. Istiophorus immaculatus (Rüppell, 1830)
  17. Istiophorus japonicus Jordan & Thompson, 1914
  18. Istiophorus ludibundus Whitley, 1933
  19. Istiophorus orientalis (Temminck & Schlegel, 1844)
  20. Istiophorus triactis Klunzinger, 1871
  21. Scomber gladius Bloch, 1793
  22. Xiphias platypterus Shaw, 1792
  23. Xiphias velifer Bloch & Schneider, 1801

Notes

Name Status: Accepted Name .

Family : Billfishes .

Similar Species

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Members of the genus Istiophorus

There are approximately 12 species in this genus:

I. albicans (Atlantic Sailfish) · I. albidus · I. atlanticus · I. bregi · I. gladius greyi · I. grey · I. indicus · I. nigricans · I. platypterus (Atlantic Sailfish) · I. platypturus · I. tetrapterus · I. albicans

Bibliography

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More Info

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Notes

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Contributors

Data Sources

Accessed through GBIF Data Portal March 05, 2008:

Identifiers

Footnotes

Last Revised: 2008-10-02