Scientific Name
Tetrapturus angustirostris

Common Name
Shortbill spearfish

Biology
Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 51-57; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 18 - 23. Dark blue above, blue splattered with brown on the sides, silvery white below; 1st dorsal fin plain dark blue, other fins brown or dark brown; anal fin bases with tinges of silvery white.

Classification

Classified By

Tanaka, 1915

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Perch-like fish (Perciformes)

Family

Billfishes (Istiophoridae)

Distribution

Region

Indian and Pacific

Distribution

Indian and Pacific: tropical and temperate waters. Although some stray individuals are found in the Atlantic Ocean, this species is believed to have its spawning grounds and principal populations only in the Pacific and Indian Oceans. Highly migratory species, Annex I of the 1982 Convention on the Law of the Sea (Ref. 26139).

Range

43°N - 56°S, 11°E - 68°W

Environment

Climate

Subtropical

Water Temperature From

Unknown °C

Water Temperature To

Unknown °C

Depth From - meters

0 m

Depth To - meters

1830 m

Zone

pelagic-oceanic

Environment

Marine; pelagic-oceanic; oceanodromous (Ref. 51243); depth range 0 - 1830 m

Trophic Level

4.5 s.e. 0.76 Based on food items.

Occurs in Marine / Salt water

True

Occurs in Brackish water

False

Occurs in Fresh Water

False

Occurs on Reefs

False

Is kept in Aquariums

False

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length

230 cm

Common Length

190 cm

Phylogenetic Diversity Index

PD50 = 0.5161 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses

Fisheries: minor commercial; gamefish: yes

Vulnerability

Moderate vulnerability (43 of 100)

Resilience

Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (Assuming tm=2-4)

Threat To Humans

Harmless

IUCN Red List Status

Not Evaluated