Atlantic white marlin (Tetrapturus albidus)

Scientific name: Tetrapturus albidus Poey, 1860

The Atlantic white marlin (Tetrapturus albidus) is a marine fish of the family Istiophoridae. In the aquarium it needs water at 22°C (72°F).

Atlantic white marlin care at a glance

Temperature
22°C (72°F)

Biology

Usually above the thermocline. Its distribution varies seasonally, reaching higher latitudes in both the northern and southern hemispheres only during the respective warm seasons. Usually found in deep (over 100 m) blue water with surface temperatures over 22?C and salinities of 35 to 37 ppt. Currents of 0.5 to 2 knots occur over much of its habitat. Feeds on fishes and squids. Females grow larger. Flesh is of excellent quality. Marketed fresh and frozen.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name
Tetrapturus albidus
Family
Istiophoridae (Billfishes)
Order
Perciformes (Perch-like fish)
Class
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length
300
Common length
210
Depth range
0–150 m (0–492 ft)
Environment
Marine; pelagic-oceanic; oceanodromous; depth range 0 - 150 m, usually 0 - 100 m
Climate
Subtropical
Distribution
Atlantic Ocean: roughly from 45?N to 45?S in the southwestern Atlantic and 35?S in the southeastern Atlantic. Records from the Mediterranean Sea, and from Bretagne, France seem to correspond to a few straying individuals. Classified as 'reduced'. It is unclear whether there are two separate stocks or a single population in the Atlantic. Highly migratory species, Annex I of the 1982 Convention on the Law of the Sea.
Conservation status (IUCN)
Not Evaluated
Threat to humans
Harmless
Uses
Fisheries: minor commercial; gamefish: yes
Resilience
Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (K=0.58; assuming tm >=2)

Sources

Taxonomy, distribution and biology data: FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly, eds.), licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

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