Species: Tetrapturus pfluegeri, Longbill Spearfish

Tetrapturus pfluegeri Robins & de Sylva, 1963

Longbill Spearfish

Body very elongate and very compressed; bill rounded in cross section, moderately long (length usually at least equal to head); adults with small teeth; nape not very high; 1st dorsal long based, 45-50, front lobe rounded, its height equal to or slightly > body depth, rest of fin remains about equal height along most of its length, close to 2nd dorsal, 6-7; first anal fin rays 13-17, its lobe rounded; second anal fin rays 6-8; pectoral fin long (>18% of body length) wide, rounded, moveable, can be pressed against body; pelvic fins slender, filamentous, ~same length as to longer than pectoral; 2 keels on side of tail base; tail fin large, strongly forked; anus well before origin of anal fin, that distance ~same as height of front lobe of anal; lateral line single, an obvious straight line; body covered with densely imbedded, small, triangular scales that have 2-5 points.

Dark blue dorsally, blue blotched with brown laterally, and silvery white ventrally, without dots or bars; first dorsal fin blue-black, unspotted; remaining fins dark brown.

Size: to about 250 cm, at least 45 kg.

Habitat: oceanic, pelagic, chiefly offshore.

Depth: 0-240 m?

Tropical and temperate Atlantic; New York to northern Brazil.