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Marlin, Istiophoridae, is a member of a group of marine fish
Fish

A fish is any marine biology vertebrate animal that is typically ectothermic , covered with scale , and equipped with two sets of paired fins and several unpaired fins....
 known as "billfish", and is closely linked to the freshwater trout. A marlin has an elongated body, a spear
Spear

A spear is a pole weapon consisting of a shaft, usually of wood, with a sharpened head. The head may be simply the sharpened end of the shaft itself, as is the case with bamboo spears, or it may be of another material fastened to the shaft, such as obsidian, iron or bronze....
-like snout
Snout

The snout, or muzzle, is the protruding portion of an animal's face, consisting of its nose, mouth, and jaw....
, and a long rigid dorsal fin
Dorsal fin

A wikt:dorsal fin is a fin located on the backs of some fish, whales, dolphins, and porpoises, as well as the ichthyosaurs. Its main purpose is to stabilize the animal against rolling and assist in sudden turns....
, which extends forwards to form a crest. Its common name
Common name

A common name is a name in general use within a community . A common name is not necessarily a commonly used name.Many of the conventions and traditions described in this article are based on the English language, and thus may not apply to common names in other languages....
 is thought to derive from its notional resemblance to a sailor's marlinspike
Marlinspike

Marlinspike is a tool used in ropework for tasks such as Wiktionary:unlay rope for rope splicing, untying knots, or forming a makeshift Handle ....
. Even more so than their close relatives the scombrids, marlin are known to be incredibly fast swimmers, reaching speeds of about .

The larger species include the Atlantic blue marlin
Atlantic blue marlin

The Atlantic blue marlin is a species of marlin, endemic to the Atlantic Ocean. It is a predator that feeds on a wide variety of organisms near the surface....
, Makaira nigricans, which have been reliably recorded in excess of in length and in weight, and the Black marlin
Black marlin

The black marlin is a species of marlin found in tropical and subtropical Indo-Pacific oceans not far from the surface. It is a large commercial game fish with a maximum published weight of 750 kg, but greater weights are known....
, Makaira indica, which have been reliably recorded in excess of in length and in weight.






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Encyclopedia


Marlin, Istiophoridae, is a member of a group of marine fish
Fish

A fish is any marine biology vertebrate animal that is typically ectothermic , covered with scale , and equipped with two sets of paired fins and several unpaired fins....
 known as "billfish", and is closely linked to the freshwater trout. A marlin has an elongated body, a spear
Spear

A spear is a pole weapon consisting of a shaft, usually of wood, with a sharpened head. The head may be simply the sharpened end of the shaft itself, as is the case with bamboo spears, or it may be of another material fastened to the shaft, such as obsidian, iron or bronze....
-like snout
Snout

The snout, or muzzle, is the protruding portion of an animal's face, consisting of its nose, mouth, and jaw....
, and a long rigid dorsal fin
Dorsal fin

A wikt:dorsal fin is a fin located on the backs of some fish, whales, dolphins, and porpoises, as well as the ichthyosaurs. Its main purpose is to stabilize the animal against rolling and assist in sudden turns....
, which extends forwards to form a crest. Its common name
Common name

A common name is a name in general use within a community . A common name is not necessarily a commonly used name.Many of the conventions and traditions described in this article are based on the English language, and thus may not apply to common names in other languages....
 is thought to derive from its notional resemblance to a sailor's marlinspike
Marlinspike

Marlinspike is a tool used in ropework for tasks such as Wiktionary:unlay rope for rope splicing, untying knots, or forming a makeshift Handle ....
. Even more so than their close relatives the scombrids, marlin are known to be incredibly fast swimmers, reaching speeds of about .

The larger species include the Atlantic blue marlin
Atlantic blue marlin

The Atlantic blue marlin is a species of marlin, endemic to the Atlantic Ocean. It is a predator that feeds on a wide variety of organisms near the surface....
, Makaira nigricans, which have been reliably recorded in excess of in length and in weight, and the Black marlin
Black marlin

The black marlin is a species of marlin found in tropical and subtropical Indo-Pacific oceans not far from the surface. It is a large commercial game fish with a maximum published weight of 750 kg, but greater weights are known....
, Makaira indica, which have been reliably recorded in excess of in length and in weight. They are popular sporting fish in certain tropical areas.

Marlin are rarely table fare, appearing mostly in fine dining restaurants. Most modern sport fishermen release marlin after unhooking. However, the old fisherman in Ernest Hemingway
Ernest Hemingway

Ernest Miller Hemingway was an American novelist, short story author, and journalist. He was part of the 1920s expatriate community in Paris, France, and one of the veterans of World War I later known as "the Lost Generation"....
's novella The Old Man and the Sea
The Old Man and the Sea

The Old Man and the Sea is a novella by Ernest Hemingway, written in Cuba in 1951 and published in 1952 in literature. It was the last major work of fiction to be produced by Hemingway and published in his lifetime....
 was storied to have caught an 18-foot marlin in order to sell its meat at market.

Some large marlin, which may be able to set a record, are taken and weighed on shore. These records are most often recorded in the IGFA
International Game Fish Association

The International Game Fish Association is the leading authority on angling pursuits and the keeper of the most current World Record fishing catches by fish categories....
 World Record Game Fish books.

Classification

The marlins are perciform
Perciformes

The Perciformes, also called the Percomorphi or Acanthopteri, include about 40% of all bony fish and are the largest order of vertebrata....
 fish, most closely related to the swordfish
Swordfish

Swordfish , also known as Broadbill in some countries, are large, highly migratory, predatory fish characterized by a long, flat bill. They are a popular sport fish, though elusive....
 and Scombridae
Scombridae

Scombridae is the family of the mackerels, tunas, and bonitos, and thus includes many of the most important and familiar food fishes. The family consists of about 55 species in 15 genera and two subfamilies....
.

Family Istiophoridae
  • Genus Istiophorus
    • Istiophorus albicans - Atlantic Sailfish
    • Istiophorus platypterus - Indo-Pacific Sailfish
  • Genus Makaira
    Makaira

    Makaira is a genus of marlins and spearfishes. It includes the Black Marlin, Atlantic Blue Marlin, and Indo-Pacific blue marlin marlins....
    • Makaira indica - Black Marlin
    • Makaira mazara - Indo-Pacific Blue Marlin
    • Makaira nigricans - Atlantic Blue Marlin
  • Genus Tetrapturus
    Tetrapturus

    Tetrapturus is a genus of marlins and spearfishes found in tropical and subtropical oceans throughout the world. Some are popular in big-game fishing....
    • 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


External links

  • from National Public Radio
    National Public Radio

    National Public Radio is a privately and publicly funded non-profit membership media organization that serves as a national Radio syndication to 797 public radio List of NPR stations in the United States....