252: ISTIOPHORIDAE (SAILFISH, SPEARFISHES & MARLINS)
Genus Istiophorus Lacepede, 1802
Some authors (e,g, Nakamura et aI., 1968) recognise 2
species of sailfishes: l. platypterus of the Indo-Pacific region
and l. albicans from the Atlantic. In juveniles of less than
90 cm, the Atlantic species was said to have longer P and C;
but this distinction has not been found by other workers.
Thus a single worldwide species is recognised in this book,
Sailfish
252.1 Istiophorus platypterus
(Shaw & Nodder, 1791)
PLATE 132
Seilvis
Xiphias platypterus Shaw & Nodder, 1791: No, 28, PI. 88 (Indian
Ocean). Istiophorus gladius: Smith, SFSA No. 874*. Istiophorus platypterus: Beardsley et aI., 1975*; Gorbunova, 1976*; van der Elst, 1981:
180*.
D (39-48)+(6-8); 1st D very high, sail-like, with middle rays longest; A
(8-15)+(5-8); P 17-20; V 1,2 with well-developed membrane. Body
elongate, compressed. LL distinct; abdominal cavity extending to middle
of 2nd A base.
Sailfish feed on a variety of epipelagic fishes and
cephalopods. Growth is rapid; one-year old fish are mature
at 1.8 m. Sailfish live at least 6 years; those from the Indian
and Pacific oceans grow larger than the Atlantic populations. Maximum recorded size: 2.3 m, 100 kg.
Genus Makaira Lacepede, 1802
Body robust, not much compressed; 1st D long and low,
its height at level of anus less than height of 2nd D; 11 + 13
vertebrae. Histiophorus granuliter Castelnau, 1861 is a
species of Makaira, but it cannot be determined from the
original description which species Caste In au had.
Two species found in all major oceans, but the black marlin is rare in the Atlantic. Growing to well over 4 m and 700
kg, the blue and black marlins are rivalled only by the
bluefin tuna for the heavyweight title of premier big game
fishes. The size, strength, endurance and fortitude of these
giant marlins command the awe and admiration of big game
anglers all over the world.
Although there are records of fish, boats and various
floating objects being impaled by marlins and other
billfishes, the use ofthe bill to impale or stun free-swimming
prey is not important in the feeding of these fishes. Along
the east African coast, large bales of rubber have been
found containing the broken bills of marlins. The unfortunate marlin were probably chasing the small fishes that
often congregate under such floating objects and accidentally rammed the rubber bale with such force that the bill
was driven up to the head in the bale. If the marlin were not
able to dislodge the heavy rubber bale (assuming the bill
was not broken off from the initial impact), they would soon
840
fall prey to sharks, which are quick to take advantage of
such disabled fishes.
KEY TO SPECIES
1a P rigid, cannot be folded flat against side of body
without breaking the joints; body somewhat
compressed ........................................................... M. indica
Ib P movable, easily fold back against body; body
oval in cross-section ............................................. M. nigricans
Black marlin
252.2 Makaira indica
(Cuvier, 1832)
PLATE 132
Swart marlyn
Tetrapturus indicus Cuvier, in Cuv. & Val. 1832: 286 (Sumatra). Tetrapturus brevirostris Smith, SFSA No. 876*. Istiompax indicus: Smith &
Smith, 1966: 79*. Makaira indica: Penrith & Cram, 1974; Nakamura,
1975*; Gorbunova, 1976*; van der Elst, 1981: 181 *.
D (38-42)+(6-7); A (13-14)+(6-7); P 19-20; LL a single line, indistinct
on adults.
Primarily an Indo-Pacific species, but fairly common off
the Cape of Good Hope between January and April.
Attains 4.5 m and 700 kg.
Blue marlin
252.3 Makaira nigricans
Lacepede, 1802
PLATE 132
Blou marlyn
Makaira nigricans Lacepede, 1802: 688, PI. 13, Fig. 3 (lie de Re, Bay of
Biscay, France); Smith, 1961: 570, No. 875a; Penrith & Cram, 1974;
Rivas, 1975; Gorbunova, 1976*; van der Elst, 1981: 182*. Tetrapturus
herschelii Gray, 1838: 313, PI. 10 (Table Bay, Cape of Good Hope);
Smith, SFSA No. 875*.
D (39-46)+(6-7); A (13-15)+(6-7); P 19-22. LL obscure (visible when
patch of skin is removed and dried), complex, forming a reticulate pattern.
Males mature at about 40 kg, females at 50 kg; maximum
size of males is about 150 kg, but females attain 5 m and 820
kg. Worldwide in all oceans.
Genus Tetrapturus Rafinesque, 1810
Body elongate, compressed, its greatest width less than
half its greatest depth; LL single, more or less distinct; vertebrae 12+ 12. Six species; 4 in our area.
KEY TO SPECIES
la A origin close to anus (less than eye diameter from
it); D height at level of anus much less than height
of anterior lobe ................................................................. 2
Ib A origin well back from anus; D height at level of
anus more than half height of anterior lobe ............................. 3
2a Tip of P and 1st D & A lobes rounded; flesh red ........... T. albidus
2b Tip of P and 1st D & A lobes pointed; flesh pale ............ T. audax
Genus Istiophorus Lacepede, 1802
Some authors (e,g, Nakamura et aI., 1968) recognise 2
species of sailfishes: l. platypterus of the Indo-Pacific region
and l. albicans from the Atlantic. In juveniles of less than
90 cm, the Atlantic species was said to have longer P and C;
but this distinction has not been found by other workers.
Thus a single worldwide species is recognised in this book,
Sailfish
252.1 Istiophorus platypterus
(Shaw & Nodder, 1791)
PLATE 132
Seilvis
Xiphias platypterus Shaw & Nodder, 1791: No, 28, PI. 88 (Indian
Ocean). Istiophorus gladius: Smith, SFSA No. 874*. Istiophorus platypterus: Beardsley et aI., 1975*; Gorbunova, 1976*; van der Elst, 1981:
180*.
D (39-48)+(6-8); 1st D very high, sail-like, with middle rays longest; A
(8-15)+(5-8); P 17-20; V 1,2 with well-developed membrane. Body
elongate, compressed. LL distinct; abdominal cavity extending to middle
of 2nd A base.
Sailfish feed on a variety of epipelagic fishes and
cephalopods. Growth is rapid; one-year old fish are mature
at 1.8 m. Sailfish live at least 6 years; those from the Indian
and Pacific oceans grow larger than the Atlantic populations. Maximum recorded size: 2.3 m, 100 kg.
Genus Makaira Lacepede, 1802
Body robust, not much compressed; 1st D long and low,
its height at level of anus less than height of 2nd D; 11 + 13
vertebrae. Histiophorus granuliter Castelnau, 1861 is a
species of Makaira, but it cannot be determined from the
original description which species Caste In au had.
Two species found in all major oceans, but the black marlin is rare in the Atlantic. Growing to well over 4 m and 700
kg, the blue and black marlins are rivalled only by the
bluefin tuna for the heavyweight title of premier big game
fishes. The size, strength, endurance and fortitude of these
giant marlins command the awe and admiration of big game
anglers all over the world.
Although there are records of fish, boats and various
floating objects being impaled by marlins and other
billfishes, the use ofthe bill to impale or stun free-swimming
prey is not important in the feeding of these fishes. Along
the east African coast, large bales of rubber have been
found containing the broken bills of marlins. The unfortunate marlin were probably chasing the small fishes that
often congregate under such floating objects and accidentally rammed the rubber bale with such force that the bill
was driven up to the head in the bale. If the marlin were not
able to dislodge the heavy rubber bale (assuming the bill
was not broken off from the initial impact), they would soon
840
fall prey to sharks, which are quick to take advantage of
such disabled fishes.
KEY TO SPECIES
1a P rigid, cannot be folded flat against side of body
without breaking the joints; body somewhat
compressed ........................................................... M. indica
Ib P movable, easily fold back against body; body
oval in cross-section ............................................. M. nigricans
Black marlin
252.2 Makaira indica
(Cuvier, 1832)
PLATE 132
Swart marlyn
Tetrapturus indicus Cuvier, in Cuv. & Val. 1832: 286 (Sumatra). Tetrapturus brevirostris Smith, SFSA No. 876*. Istiompax indicus: Smith &
Smith, 1966: 79*. Makaira indica: Penrith & Cram, 1974; Nakamura,
1975*; Gorbunova, 1976*; van der Elst, 1981: 181 *.
D (38-42)+(6-7); A (13-14)+(6-7); P 19-20; LL a single line, indistinct
on adults.
Primarily an Indo-Pacific species, but fairly common off
the Cape of Good Hope between January and April.
Attains 4.5 m and 700 kg.
Blue marlin
252.3 Makaira nigricans
Lacepede, 1802
PLATE 132
Blou marlyn
Makaira nigricans Lacepede, 1802: 688, PI. 13, Fig. 3 (lie de Re, Bay of
Biscay, France); Smith, 1961: 570, No. 875a; Penrith & Cram, 1974;
Rivas, 1975; Gorbunova, 1976*; van der Elst, 1981: 182*. Tetrapturus
herschelii Gray, 1838: 313, PI. 10 (Table Bay, Cape of Good Hope);
Smith, SFSA No. 875*.
D (39-46)+(6-7); A (13-15)+(6-7); P 19-22. LL obscure (visible when
patch of skin is removed and dried), complex, forming a reticulate pattern.
Males mature at about 40 kg, females at 50 kg; maximum
size of males is about 150 kg, but females attain 5 m and 820
kg. Worldwide in all oceans.
Genus Tetrapturus Rafinesque, 1810
Body elongate, compressed, its greatest width less than
half its greatest depth; LL single, more or less distinct; vertebrae 12+ 12. Six species; 4 in our area.
KEY TO SPECIES
la A origin close to anus (less than eye diameter from
it); D height at level of anus much less than height
of anterior lobe ................................................................. 2
Ib A origin well back from anus; D height at level of
anus more than half height of anterior lobe ............................. 3
2a Tip of P and 1st D & A lobes rounded; flesh red ........... T. albidus
2b Tip of P and 1st D & A lobes pointed; flesh pale ............ T. audax