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Billfish (Istiophoridae) are aquatic predators characterized by long dorsal fins and spear-like rostra (bill). Atlantic sailfish, marlin, and swordfish are some of the more frequently seen varieties in this family of marine fishes.
Size
Baby marlin are significantly smaller than their adult counterparts. Of the four species of marlin fishes, the striped marlin (Kajikia audax) weighs in at over 500 pounds while blue marlins (Makaira nigricans) can stretch over 12 feet long and can weigh as much as 2,000 pounds!
Like other open ocean bony fishes, blue marlin young feed on tiny zooplankton and as they mature their diet expands to include tuna and other large bony fishes such as shark. Migrating across entire ocean basins or even across entire oceans in search of optimal habitat and feeding conditions makes blue marlin one of the world's most highly mobile species.
Blue marlin are among the world's most iconic fishes, renowned for their deep cobalt blue on top and silvery white below colours, distinct dorsal fin and an intimidating upper jaw known as a bill that can grow to more than half the length of its head - giving this species its distinct appearance in open ocean environments.
While taxonomists have divided blue marlin into multiple species at times, genetic studies indicate they all belong to one single species. Unlike other billfish which reproduce through internal fertilization, blue marlin spawn in open waters and release their eggs that then drift with ocean currents until male marlin find them and fertilize them using their sperm.
Habitat
Baby marlins' primary habitat is the ocean. These fish migrate throughout the water in search of food and breeding opportunities. Their diet consists of small fish and invertebrates; when feeding on squid, baby marlins typically swallow it whole before swallowing back their meal whole again. Baby marlins are among various billfish species; others include Atlantic blue, black striped and white marlins.
Blue marlin (Makaira nigricans) can be found worldwide in tropical oceanic waters. Its body is deep blue on top and silvery below, and features short dorsal fin and stiff pectoral fins set at an angle so they cannot be flattened against its body without force. As one of the largest fishes on Earth weighing more than 1,000 pounds each males are often larger than females.
Scientists are conducting studies to increase their understanding of blue marlins, an endangered species. They're studying their breeding patterns, growth rates, habitat preferences and predators such as large open ocean shark species.
The Blue Marlin is an amazing marine fish that is highly sought-after by both sport and commercial fishermen, leading to overfishing which threatens its survival. By participating in the Billfish Foundation's Tag and Release Program, choosing sustainably sourced seafood options and protecting ocean environments where these species reside you can help save these species!
Feeding
Marlins are top predators in the ocean, renowned for their long upper jaws that make them lethal to prey. They can become extremely large creatures that feed on various types of fish and squid species. Furthermore, their bodies contain 24 vertebrae which allow them to quickly navigate water currents.
These fish are highly prized migratory fish that travel across entire ocean basins or even between oceans, making them highly prized sport fishing targets. Sport fishermen frequently capture them for sport fishing adventures. Their highly prized qualities make catching these species one of the more difficult forms of gamefish to pursue.
The Blue Marlin is an enormous fish that can reach weights of over 1,400 pounds, and one of the top predators of the ocean. Known for its speed and agility in water environments, its body is deep blue in hue with silvery highlights along its silvery belly. Additionally, its head has an elongated shape, its mouth long and spearlike, as well as an accessory called a Rostrum that helps it stun prey fish before attacking.
Blue marlins reproduce through external fertilization; their sperm are released into the water column to find eggs. Female blue marlins can grow to four times bigger than their male counterparts and produce millions of eggs that they typically deposit onto seaweed or coral reefs.
Breeding
As is typical in fish species, female blue marlin produce millions of eggs during spawning, with males fertilizing only some or dozens at most. Once fertilized, these eggs float on the surface until hatching takes place; such production requires considerable energy which may explain why female blue marlin reach such large sizes.
That explains why they spend so much time ploughing through dense schools of tuna, mackerel and other schooling gamefish at high speeds in order to stun and capture them before they escape back into the depths. This also allows them to grab bites before any stunned fish escape back down into its depths to die.
Baby marlins can rapidly double their weight within their first year of existence. Their stiff pectoral fins often do not fold flat against their bodies easily without fighting against it, although this characteristic will become less evident as the fish grows older.
Scientists study the reproductive habits of billfish such as swordfish, sailfish and blue/white marlin to learn more about how these incredible animals survive and reproduce. By understanding where and when these fish spawn and how quickly they develop into adults, we can better protect these fish for future generations - this includes supporting organizations like Billfish Foundation's Tag and Release Program or selecting sustainably sourced seafood products which support fishing/tourism industries that rely on these species' health.