Family: ISTIOPHORIDAE, Billfish Marlin, Billfishes, Marlins, Sailfishes
sword rounded
2Ds close together, D1 long base
tail base 2 keels
with pelvics
FAMILY ISTIOPHORIDAE
BILLFISHES, MARLINS, SAILFISHES
This family contains the billfishes, which are closely allied to the swordfish (Family (Xiphiidae). Billfishes (Family Istiophoridae) have round swords; teeth present, the 2 dorsal fins are close together and the 1st has a very long base; pelvic fins and scales present; double keels on the base of the strongly forked tail fin.
There are 11 species of billfishes in 5 genera (see Collette et al, 2006) in this tropical to temperate, circumglobal family. In our region there are four Indo-Pacific species. In our region there are four species (2 circumtropical, 2 pan-Atlantic) in four circumglobal genera.
PREPARED BY D ROSS ROBERTSON, AFTER COLLETTE (2002)
