Makaira mazara

• Taxonomy
• Physical Description
• Distribution
• Habitat
• Similar Species
• Bibliography
• More Info
• Notes
• Keep Exploring

Overview:

Family: Billfishes; Epipelagic and oceanic species mostly confined to the waters on the warmer side of the 24¦C surface isotherm and known to effect seasonal north-south migrations. Not usually seen close to land masses or islands, unless there is a deep drop-off of the shelf. Remain mostly within the upper 37 m. Believed to form small-scale schools of at most 10 individuals. Larger fish tend to swim solitarily (Ref. 43) but smaller ones form schools of about 10 individuals (Ref. 9987). Feed on squids, tuna-like fishes, crustaceans and cephalopods (Ref. 9308). Also caught with troll lines (Ref. 9308). The flesh is of good quality and is marketed frozen and prepared as sashimi and sausages in Japan (Ref. 9308); also utilized fresh (Ref. 9987). Also Ref. 9692.

Taxonomy

Ambiguous Synonyms:

1. Makaira nigricans Lacepède, 1802

Unambiguous Synonyms:

1. Eumakaira nigra Hirasaka & Nakamura, 1947
2. Istiompax howardi Whitley, 1954
3. Istiompax mazara (Jordan & Snyder, 1901)
4. Makaira ampla subsp. mazara (Jordan & Schneider, 1901)
5. Makaira nigra (Hirasaka & Nakamura, 1947)
6. Makaira nigricans subsp. mazara (Jordan & Snyder, 1901)
7. Tetrapturus mazara Jordan & Snyder, 1901

Notes:

Name Status: Accepted Name. Latest taxonomic scrutiny: Data last modified by FishBase 07-Mar-1995

Physical Description

Family Istiophoridae:

Distribution: most tropical and subtropical waters. Premaxilla and nasal bones produced, forming a spear-like bill or rostrum with a rounded cross-section. Gill membranes not united to isthmus. Very narrow pelvic fins. Jaw teeth present. Two keels on each side of caudal peduncle in adults. Dorsal fin extending over much of body length; sometimes resembling a sail. Dorsal fin can be depresssed into a groove. Lateral line persists in life. Vertebrae 24. Maximum length 4 m. Bill used for stunning prey fish. The morphological adaptations required for maintaining high brain and retinal temperatures are discussed in Brock et al. 1993 Science 260:210-214. Very popular as game fish.

The family Istiophoridae belongs to the Class Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes) and the Order Perciformes. It contains 3 genera and 11 species. It may be found in Marine environments and is primarily Marine. Members of this family are not used in the aquarium trade. Reproductively, most members of this family are nonguarders. The main mode of swimming of adult fish in this family is thunniform. Compared with other fish, the activity level of this family tends to be very active. Members of this family have been dated back to the Cretaceous period. Etymology of this family name: Greek, istion = sail + Greek, pherein = to carry

Images:

Distribution

Range and Population

East Pacific, Indo-West Pacific

Indo-Pacific: in tropical, subtropical and sometimes temperate waters^[1]. It is the most tropical billfish species and is common in equatorial waters. However, many scientists do not view Makaira mazara and Makaira nigricans as distinct species, and that the latter species has been considered a single pantropical occurring in the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans. Highly migratory species, Annex I of the 1982 Convention on the Law of the Sea^[2].

Habitat

Biome

Saltwater. Pelagic.

Similar Species

Members of the genus Makaira:

There are approximately 24 species and subspecies in this genus: M. ampla ampla · M. ampla marlina · M. ampla mazara · M. ampla tahitiensis · M. audax zelandica · M. nigricans · M. grammatica · M. indica · M. indica (Black Marlin) · M. marlina marlina · M. marlina tahitiensis · M. mazara (Black Spearfish) · M. mazara tahitiensis · M. nigricana · M. nigricans (Atlantic Blue Marlin) · M. nigricans ampla · M. nigricans marlina · M. nigricans mazara · M. nigricans nigricans · M. nigricans tahitiensis · M. purdyi · M. striped skelleton · M. white · M. white whale

Members of the genus Lycenchelys:

There are approximately 74 species and subspecies in this genus: L. alba · L. albeola · L. albomaculata · L. alta · L. antarctica · L. aolbomaculata · L. aratrirostris · L. argentina · L. aurantiaca · L. bachmanni · L. bellingshauseni · L. bullisi · L. callista · L. camchatica · L. chauliodus · L. cicatrifer · L. crassilabris · L. crotalinus (Snakehead Eelpout) · L. diapterus · L. dividocanalis · L. fedorovi · L. folletti · L. hadrogeneia · L. hippopotamus · L. hureaui · L. incisa · L. jordani (Shortjaw Eelpout) · L. jordoni · L. kolthoffi · L. lonchoura · L. longiabdominals · L. maculata · L. makushok · L. malanostomias · L. maoriensis · L. melanostomias · L. micropora · L. monstrosa · L. muraena · L. nanospinata · L. nigripalatum · L. oregonensis · L. parini (Parin's Wolf Eelpout) · L. paxilla · L. paxillus (Common Wolf Eel) · L. pearcyi · L. pentactina · L. pequenoi · L. peruana · L. plathyrhinus · L. platyrhina · L. plicifera · L. porifer · L. rassi · L. ratmanovi · L. remissaria (Shifted Wolf Eelpout) · L. rosea · L. sarsi septentrionalis · L. sarsii (Sar's Wolf Eel) · L. scaurus · L. sp · L. squamosa · L. tohokuensis · L. tristichodon · L. turneri · L. uschakovi · L. veriillii · L. verilli · L. verrili · L. verrillii (Wolf Eelpout) · L. vitiazi · L. volki · L. wilkesi · L. xanthoptera

Bibliography

• Allen, G.R. and R.C. Steene (1988). Fishes of Christmas Island Indian Ocean. Christmas Island Natural History Association, Christmas Island, Indian Ocean, 6798, Australia. 197 p.
• Bearez, P. (1996). Lista de los peces marinos del Ecuador continental. Rev. Biol. Trop. 44(2):731-741.
• Duong, T.T. (2001). Mot so loai ca thuong gap o bien Viet Nam (Viet Nam's Common Marine Fishes Catalogue). Ministry of Fisheries of Viet Nam - Fisheries Information Center of Viet Nam.
• Japan International Cooperation Agency (1987). The fisheries resources survey in Fiji and Tuvalu. Figures and tables. Japan International Cooperation Agency, April 1987.
• Kailola, P.J. (1991). The fishes of Papua New Guinea: a revised and annotated checklist. Vol. III. Gobiidae to Molidae. Research Bulletin No. 41, Research Section, Dept. of Fisheries and Marine Resources, Papua New Guinea. 153 p.
• Kailola, P.J., M.J. Williams, P.C. Stewart, R.E. Reichelt, A. McNee and C. Grieve (1993). Australian fisheries resources. Bureau of Resource Sciences, Canberra, Australia. 422 p.
• Kapoor, D., R. Dayal and A.G. Ponniah (2002). Fish biodiversity of India. National Bureau of Fish Genetic Resources Lucknow, India.775 p.
• Kulbicki, M., J.E. Randall and J. Rivaton (1994). Checklist of the fishes of the Chesterfield Islands (Coral Sea). Micronesica 27(1/2):1-43.
• Masuda, H., K. Amaoka, C. Araga, T. Uyeno and T. Yoshino (1984). The fishes of the Japanese Archipelago. Vol. 1 (text). Tokai University Press, Tokyo, Japan. 437 p. (text), 370 pls.
• McCormack, G. (2000). Cook Islands biodiversity and natural heritage database. Sent by Gerald McCormack as RTF document in May 2000 for use in FishBase.
• Myers, R.F. (1999). Micronesian reef fishes: a comprehensive guide to the coral reef fishes of Micronesia, 3rd revised and expanded edition. Coral Graphics, Barrigada, Guam. 330 p.
• 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. 5(125):65 p.
• Nakamura, Izumi 1985. Billfishes of the World: An Annotated and Illustrated Catalogue of Marlins, Sailfishes, Spearfishes and Swordfishes Known to Date. FAO Fisheries Synopsis, no. 125, vol. 5. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Rome, Italy. iv + 65. ISBN: 92-5-102232-1.
• Paulin, C., A. Stewart, C. Roberts and P. McMillan (1989). New Zealand fish: a complete guide. National Museum of New Zealand Miscellaneous Series No. 19. 279 p.
• Randall, J.E. (1995). Coastal fishes of Oman. University of Hawaii Press, Honolulu, Hawaii. 439 p.
• Randall, J.E. and C. Anderson (1993). Annotated checklist of the epipelagic and shore fishes of the Maldives Islands. Ichthyol. Bull. of the J.L.B. Smith Inst. of Ichthyol. 59:47.
• Shen, S.C. (ed.) (1993). Fishes of Taiwan. Department of Zoology, National Taiwan University, Taipei. 960 p.
• Shiino, Sueo M. 1976. List of Common Names of Fishes of the World, Those Prevailing among English-speaking Nations. Science Report of Shima Marineland, no. 4. Shima Marineland. Kashikojima, Shima, Mie, Japan. 262.
• Van Der Elst, R. (1993). A guide to the common sea fishes of southern Africa. (3rd Ed.) Struik Publishers, Cape Town. 398 p.

More Info

• Search for Pictures: images.google.com
• Search for Scholarly Articles: Google Scholar
• Search using Scientific Name and Vernacular Names: All the Web | AltaVista Canada | AltaVista | Excite | Google | HotBot | Lycos
• Search using Specialized Databases: GenBank | Medline | Scirus | CISTI/CA L | Agricola Periodicals | Agricola Books
• Translate this page using Google: Arabic | Chinese | Deutsch | Español | Français | Italiano | Japanese | Korean | Português

Notes

Contributors:

• Bisby, F.A., Y.R. Roskov, M.A. Ruggiero, T.M. Orrell, L.E. Paglinawan, P.W. Brewer, N. Bailly, J. van Hertum, eds (2007). Species 2000 & ITIS Catalogue of Life: 2007 Annual Checklist. Species 2000: Reading, U.K.
• Brands, S.J. (comp.) 1989-2006. Systema Naturae 2000. The Taxonomicon. Universal Taxonomic Services, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Accessed April 20, 2007.
• FishBase
• FishBase 2006.
• Global Biodiversity Information Facility. Accessed March 01, 2008. http://www.gbif.org Mediated distribution data from provider.
• Paxton, John (from FishBase).

Data Sources:

Accessed through GBIF Data Portal March 01, 2008:

• National Chemical Laboratory: IndOBIS, Indian Ocean Node of OBIS

Identifiers:

• Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS) Taxonomic Serial Number (TSN): 172497
• Fishbase Species ID: 218
• Global Biodiversity Information Facility Taxonkey: 108914
• Zipcode Zoo Species Identifier: 116063

Footnotes:

1. Nakamura, I. (2001). Istiophoridae. Billfishes. p. 3759-3764. In K.E. Carpenter and V. Niem (eds.) FAO species identification guide for fishery purposes. The living marine resources of the Western Central Pacific. Vol. 6. Bony fishes part 4 (Labridae
2. FAO Fisheries Department (1994). World review of highly migratory species and straddling stocks. FAO Fish. Tech. Pap. No. 337. Rome, FAO. 70 p.