Makaira indica, Black Marlin [+]
Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Class Actinopterygii
Order Perciformes
Family Istiophoridae
Genus Makaira
species: Makaira indica [+ITIS +WoRMS]
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Description & Behavior
The black marlin, Makaira indica (Cuvier in Cuvier and Valenciennes, 1832), is a strong, fast pelagic species highly prized by sport fishermen. It has a dark blue dorsal side, a silvery white belly, and faint blue vertical stripes running down the sides. The first dorsal fin is blackish to dark blue, while the other fins are dark brown, occasionally with blue tinges. A specimen may have anywhere between 39 and 50 dorsal softrays. Males may reach a length of 4.65 m and weight of 750 kgs, but females are generally much larger. The black marlin is the only marlin with non-retractable fins. Like all billfish, the species has a distinctive elongated sword-like upper jaw. The black marlin's dorsal fin is proportionately the lowest of any billfish, standing less than 50 percent of the fish's body height. Scientists do not yet know how long a member of this species lives.
World Range & Habitat
A highly migratory species, the black marlin is usually found in shallow waters above the thermocline at 15 to 30° C, near shore close to land masses, islands and coral reefs. Their depth ranges from 0 to 915 meters, though they rarely swim below 30 meters. In the Indo-Pacific, it inhabits both tropical and subtropical waters, occasionally entering temperate waters, but generally staying between 40° North and 45° South. Stray individuals may migrate into the Atlantic Ocean by way of the Cape of Good Hope, but no breeding populations appear to be permanent residents in the Atlantic.
Feeding Behavior (Ecology)
The black marlin feeds on dolphinfish, squid, cuttlefishes, octopods, mackerels, trevallies, swordfish, and large decapod crustaceans, but prefers small tunas when abundant. Stomach analysis indicates that the fish uses its long, sharp bill to slash its prey before eating it.
Life History
Spawning by external fertilization is believed to take place in water temperatures around 27 or 28° C. A single pregnant female may carry up to 40 million eggs.
Conservation Status/Additional Comments
The black marlin is not yet an endangered species. The flesh is marketed refrigerated or frozen in the United States and prepared as sashimi in Japan. However, it is banned in parts of Australia for its high selenium and mercury content.
References & Further Research
BioOne ~ CITES ~ Discover Life ~ GBIF ~ Google Scholar ~ ITIS ~ IUCN RedList ~ MarineBio Network ~ NCBI ~ SCIRIS ~ SIRIS ~ Tree of Life Web Project ~ Wikipedia
Black Marlin, Makaira indica (Cuvier, 1832) - Australian Museum
Blue Marlin, Makaira nigricans - Florida Museum of Natural History Ichthyology Department
Makaira indica, Black marlin - Australian Fisheries Resources, 1993
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