Makaira nigricans, Blue Marlin [+]
Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Class Actinopterygii
Order Perciformes
Family Istiophoridae
Genus Makaira
species: Makaira nigricans [+ITIS +WoRMS]
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Description & Behavior
Largest of the Atlantic marlins, the blue marlin, Makaira nigricans (Lacepéde, 1802), is common to 3.4 meters and known to exceed 900 kilograms. Males, however, grow much more slowly than females and do not generally exceed 136 kilograms, and the species' average weight is closer to 180 kilograms; all trophy fish are females.
The blue marlin's body is cobalt blue on top, with a silvery white belly, and the upper jaw is famously elongated like a spear. The tail is high and crescent-shaped. The dorsal fin is pointed at the front end, and the body is covered in embedded scales which end in one or two sharp points. The lateral line is reticulated, or interwoven like a net, but this characteristic is difficult to see in large specimens. Maturity is reached at about 80 cm in males (40 kg) and 50 cm in females (55 kg).
World Range & Habitat
A highly migratory species, the blue marlin is usually found offshore in deep blue tropical or temperate waters. It is known to make regular seasonal migrations, moving toward the equator in winter and away again in summer, and some migrations may span the entire Atlantic. Some scientists recognize Makaira mazara and Makaira nigricans as two different species based on differences in the lateral line. Many, however, lump the two together as a single species occurring in the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian oceans.
Feeding Behavior (Ecology)
The blue marlin's prey includes octopuses, squid and pelagic fishes such as blackfin tuna and frigate mackerel. Feeding takes place during the daytime, and the fish rarely gather in schools, preferring to hunt alone. Blue marlin have been reported to use their long, sharp bill to slice or stun prey.
Life History
Very little is known about the spawning of the blue marlin.
Conservation Status/Additional Comments
A very popular sport fish due to its challenging size and strength—it is one of the world's fastest fish—the blue marlin is also marketed for human consumption fresh or frozen. It is apparently not a threatened species, yet.
References & Further Research
BioOne ~ CITES ~ Discover Life ~ GBIF ~ Google Scholar ~ ITIS ~ IUCN RedList ~ MarineBio Network ~ NCBI ~ SCIRIS ~ SIRIS ~ Tree of Life Web Project ~ Wikipedia
Search the Web for Blue Marlin » ARKive ~ Ask.com ~ Ask Jeeves ~ bing ~ deviantART ~ dmoz ~ Dogpile ~ Google Images ~ MySpace Images ~ OceanFootage ~ Picsearch ~ StumbleUpon ~ Yahoo! Images ~ YouTube
