Tetrapturus angustirostris

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

Conservation Status

Threats:

Also caught as a by-catch of long lines with hooks intended for tuna. Marketed frozen and prepared as fish cakes and sashimi in Japan^[1]. Also prepared as sausages.

Taxonomy

Unambiguous Synonyms:

1. Pseudohistiophorus angustirostris (Tanaka, 1915)
2. Pseudohistiophorus illingworthi (Jordan & Evermann, 1926)
3. Tetrapterus angustirostris Tanaka, 1915
4. Tetrapturus illingworthi Jordan & Evermann, 1926
5. Tetrapturus kraussi Jordan & Evermann, 1926

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

Aquatic Regions

Indian and Pacific: tropical and temperate waters. Although some stray individuals are found in the Atlantic Ocean, this species is believed to have its spawning grounds and principal populations only in the Pacific and Indian Oceans. Highly migratory species, Annex I of the 1982 Convention on the Law of the Sea^[2].

Range and Population

Indian and Pacific: tropical and temperate waters. Although some stray individuals are found in the Atlantic Ocean, this species is believed to have its spawning grounds and principal populations only in the Pacific and Indian Oceans. Highly migratory species, Annex I of the 1982 Convention on the Law of the Sea^[3].

Habitat

Oceanic and epipelagic, found above the thermocline^[4].

Biome

Saltwater. Pelagic.

Diet

Feeds on fishes, cephalopods and crustaceans.

Similar Species

Members of the genus Tetrapturus:

There are approximately 12 species and subspecies in this genus: T. albidus (Atlantic White Marlin) · T. angastirostris · T. angustirostris (Japanese Spearfish) · T. angustrirostris · T. audax (Barred Marlin) · T. belone (Mediterranean Shortbill Spearfish) · T. pfluegeri · T. georgii (Roundscale Spearfish) · T. pfleugeri · T. pfluegeri (Atlantic Longbill Spearfish) · T. pfluegeri paratype · T. pfluegeride (Longbill Spearfish)

Bibliography

• Anderson, R.C., J.E. Randall and R.H. Kuiter (1998). New records of fishes from the Maldive Islands, with notes on other species. Ichthyol. Bull. J.L.B. Smith Inst. Ichthyol. 67(2):20-36.
• Bearez, P. (1996). Lista de los peces marinos del Ecuador continental. Rev. Biol. Trop. 44(2):731-741.
• Bianchi, G. (1985). FAO species identification sheets for fishery purposes. Field guide to the commercial marine and brackish-water species of Pakistan. Prepared with the support of PAK/77/033/ and FAO (FIRM) Regular Programme. FAO, Rome. 200 p.
• Heemstra, P.C. (1986). Istiophoridae. p. 839-841. In M.M. Smith and P.C. Heemstra (eds.) Smiths' sea fishes. Springer-Verlag, Berlin.
• 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.
• 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.
• Robins, Richard C., Reeve M. Bailey, Carl E. Bond, James R. Brooker, Ernest A. Lachner, et al. 1991. Common and Scientific Names of Fishes from the United States and Canada, Fifth Edition. American Fisheries Society Special Publication, no. 20. American Fisheries Society. Bethesda, Maryland, USA. 183. ISBN: 0-913235-70-9.
• Wass, R. C. (1984). An annotated checklist of the fishes of Samoa. Natl. Ocean. Atmos. Adminis. Tech. Rept., Natl. Mar. Fish. Serv., Spec. Sci. Rept. Fish. (781).
• Winterbottom, R. and R.C. Anderson (1997). A revised checklist of the epipelagic and shore fishes of the Chagos Archipelago, Central Indian Ocean. Ichthyol. Bull. Smith. Inst. (66):1-28.

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 October 10, 2006.
• Dyer, Brian S. (from FishBase).
• FishBase 2006.
• Global Biodiversity Information Facility. Accessed March 01, 2008. http://www.gbif.org Mediated distribution data from 3 providers.

Data Sources:

Accessed through GBIF Data Portal March 01, 2008:

• Institute of Marine and Coastal Sciences, Rutgers University: Bureau of Rural Sciences National commercial fisheries half-degree data set 2000-2002 (OBIS Australia)
• Institute of Marine and Coastal Sciences, Rutgers University: iziko South African Museum - Fish Collection
• Institute of Marine and Coastal Sciences, Rutgers University: Marine and Coastal Management - Linefish Dataset (First Semester of 1990) (AfrOBIS)
• Institute of Marine and Coastal Sciences, Rutgers University: Marine and Coastal Management - Linefish Dataset (Second Semester of 1986)
• Los Angeles County Museum of Natural History: Vertebrate specimens
• OZCAM (Online Zoological Collections of Australian Museums) Provider: Online Zoological Collections of Australian Museums

Identifiers:

• Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS) Taxonomic Serial Number (TSN): 172503
• Fishbase Species ID: 3915
• Global Biodiversity Information Facility Taxonkey: 117304
• Zipcode Zoo Species Identifier: 126431

Footnotes:

1. Nakamura, I. (1995). Istiophoridae. Agujas, marlines, peces-vela. p. 1186-1193. In W. Fischer, F. Krupp, W. Schneider, C. Sommer, K.E. Carpenter and V. Niem (eds.) Guia FAO para Identification de Especies para lo Fines de la Pesca. Pacifico Centro-Ori
2. FAO Fisheries Department (1994). World review of highly migratory species and straddling stocks. FAO Fish. Tech. Pap. No. 337. Rome, FAO. 70 p.
3. FAO Fisheries Department (1994). World review of highly migratory species and straddling stocks. FAO Fish. Tech. Pap. No. 337. Rome, FAO. 70 p.
4. Nakamura, I. (1995). Istiophoridae. Agujas, marlines, peces-vela. p. 1186-1193. In W. Fischer, F. Krupp, W. Schneider, C. Sommer, K.E. Carpenter and V. Niem (eds.) Guia FAO para Identification de Especies para lo Fines de la Pesca. Pacifico Centro-Ori