Black marlin
Black Marlin ( Istiompax indica)
The Black Marlin ( Istiompax indica) is a species of sword -like fish in the tropical regions of the sea Indopazifiks.
Dissemination
The Black Marlin is in the tropical and subtropical waters of the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean in front near the surface up to 915 meters deep; occasionally it is also observed in temperate latitudes. Single copies sometimes wander around the Cape of Good Hope into the Atlantic, but without forming a population there.
Features
The body of the black marlin is elongate and laterally scarcely compressed; the maxilla forms a strong, not very long spear. Opposite the Blue Marlin, which occurs in the same habitat, the Black Marlin is shorter and heavier in his stocky body shape and his spear. The fish has two dorsal fins, of which the front at the front end is the highest, but do not reach the height of the hull. The pectoral fins are falcate; as a key differentiator for blue marlin they are hardly mobile and can not be applied to the body. The small scales embedded in the skin and have one or two sharp points. The skin is at the top black blue, silvery white on the bottom, the front dorsal fin is almost black, the other fins rather dark brown. When drawing occasionally appear light blue, vertical stripes, but most specimens are unmarked.
Female specimens will normally be difficult to 650 kg it but specimens have been caught up to 4.65 m in length and 750 kg mass.
Way of life
Usually keeps the Black Marlin in warm water (15-30 ° C) near the surface to often. Near land or reefs, where they feed on fish, squid and large crabs, with a preference for small tunas
System
The Black Marlin long time belonged to the genus Makaira and was only discovered after a recent revision of the swordfish -like in the monotypic genus Istiompax that forms the sister genus of Kajikia ( White marlin (K. albidus ) and Striped Marlin (K. audax ) ).
Fishing
The Black Marlin is because of its spectacular escapes and jumps in the sport fishermen one of the most sought after big fish. Often these fish are hooked in Riffnähe. Even for commercial fishing, he is important and is prepared in Japan as sashimi.
Swell
- Black Marlin on Fishbase.org (English)