>
Carangiformes (Jacks) >
Istiophoridae (Billfishes)
Etymology: Tetrapturus: Greek, tetra = four + Greek, pteron, fin, wing (Ref. 45335).
Eponymy: Albert Pflueger Sr. (d: 1962) was a taxidermist based in Miami who invented a new method of mounting fish specimens, especially large ‘sport’ specimens like tarpon and sailfish. (Ref. 128868), visit book page.
More on authors: Robins & deSylva.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / rango de profundidad / distribution range
Ecología
marino pelagic-oceanic; oceanodromo (Ref. 51243); rango de profundidad 0 - 200 m (Ref. 43), usually 100 - ? m (Ref. 4770). Subtropical; 44°N - 33°S, 98°W - 17°E (Ref. 43)
Atlantic Ocean: widely distributed in offshore waters, much more densely so in the western than in the eastern Atlantic. Highly migratory species.
Tamaño / Peso / Age
Madurez: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 254 cm FL macho / no sexado; (Ref. 40637); common length : 165 cm OT macho / no sexado; (Ref. 43); peso máximo publicado: 58.0 kg (Ref. 40637)
Espinas dorsales (total) : 0; Radios blandos dorsales (total) : 50 - 57; Espinas anales: 0; Radios blandos anales: 18 - 21; Vértebra: 24. Blue-black above, silvery white splattered with brown on the sides, silvery white below; dorsal fins dark blue; pectorals blackish brown, occasionally with tinges of greyish white; pelvic fins blue-black with a black fin membrane; 1st anal fin dark blue with silvery white at base; 2nd anal fin blackish brown.
Body shape (shape guide): elongated.
Oceanic species, chiefly found in offshore waters, usually above the thermocline. Feed mainly on pelagic fishes and squids (Ref. 4770). Females probably spawn once a year (Ref. 4770). Marketed frozen.
Life cycle and mating behavior
Madurez | Reproducción | Puesta | Huevos | Fecundidad | Larva
Maturation seems to occur at the same time rather than in the same season both in the northern and southern hemisphere, which could be suggestive of homogeneity of the population of this species. Females probably spawn once a year (Ref. 4770).
Nakamura, I., 1985. FAO species catalogue. Vol. 5. Billfishes of the world. An annotated and illustrated catalogue of marlins, sailfishes, spearfishes and swordfishes known to date. FAO Fish. Synop. 125(5):65p. Rome: FAO. (Ref. 43)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2025-1)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Pesquerías: escaso valor comercial; pesca deportiva: si
Herramientas
Special reports
Download XML
Fuentes de Internet
Estimates based on models
Preferred temperature (Referencia
123201): 14.1 - 23.7, mean 18.2 °C (based on 140 cells).
Phylogenetic diversity index (Referencia
82804): PD
50 = 0.5630 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.00447 (0.00195 - 0.01025), b=3.14 (2.94 - 3.34), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this (Sub)family-body shape (Ref.
93245).
Nivel trófico (Referencia
69278): 4.4 ±0.4 se; based on diet studies.
Resiliencia (Referencia
120179): Medio, población duplicada en un tiempo mínimo de 1.4-4.4 años (Assuming tm=2-4).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Very high vulnerability (90 of 100).
🛈
Climate Vulnerability (Ref.
125649): High to very high vulnerability (65 of 100).
🛈
Nutrients (Ref.
124155): Calcium = 37.9 [17.3, 66.4] mg/100g; Iron = 1.05 [0.60, 1.83] mg/100g; Protein = 19.7 [18.5, 20.8] %; Omega3 = 0.231 [0.124, 0.428] g/100g; Selenium = 44.6 [22.8, 89.1] μg/100g; VitaminA = 5.4 [1.7, 17.5] μg/100g; Zinc = 0.368 [0.250, 0.552] mg/100g (wet weight);