Marlin is a fish from the family Istiophoridae. It has an elongated body, a spear-like snout or bill, and a long rigid dorsal fin which extends to form a crest. Additional so than their close relatives, the scombrids, marlin are quite fast swimmers, reaching speeds of about 110 kilometers per hour (68 mph).
The larger species include the Atlantic blue marlin, Makaira nigricans, which can reach 5 m (16.4 ft) in length and 818 kg (1,800 lb) in weight] and the black marlin, Istiompax indica, which can reach in excess of 5 m (16.4 ft) in length and 670 kg (1,500 lb) in weight. They are popular sporting fish in tropical areas. Marlin native to the tropical and temperate waters of the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans.
The marlins are perciform fish, most closely related to the swordfish and Scombridae.
Family Istiophoridae
- Genus Istiophorus
- Istiophorus albicans—Atlantic sailfish
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- Istiophorus platypterus—Indo-Pacific sailfish
- Genus Istiompax
- Istiompax indica—Black marlin
- Genus Makaira
- Makaira mazara—Indo-Pacific blue marlin
- Makaira nigricans—Atlantic blue marlin
- Genus Tetrapturus
- Tetrapturus albidus—Atlantic white marlin
- Tetrapturus angustirostris—Shortbill spearfish
- Tetrapturus audax—Striped marlin
- Tetrapturus belone—Mediterranean spearfish
- Tetrapturus georgii—Roundscale spearfish
- Tetrapturus pfluegeri—Longbill spearfish
