Blue marlin (Makaira nigricans)

Scientific name: Makaira nigricans Lacep?de, 1802

Blue marlin (Makaira nigricans)

The Blue marlin (Makaira nigricans) is a marine fish of the family Istiophoridae. In the aquarium it needs water at 22–31°C (72–88°F).

Blue marlin care at a glance

Temperature
22–31°C (72–88°F)

Biology

Oceanic species. Water color affects its occurrence, at least in the northern Gulf of Mexico, where the fish show preference for blue water. Rarely gathers in schools and usually found as scattered single individuals. Feeds mainly on fishes but also preys on octopods and squids. Marketed fresh or frozen. Feeding takes place during daytime. Maturity reached at about 80 cm in males and 50 cm in females. Females grow larger.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name
Makaira nigricans
Family
Istiophoridae (Billfishes)
Order
Perciformes (Perch-like fish)
Class
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length
500
Common length
290
Depth range
0–200 m (0–656 ft)
Environment
Marine; pelagic-oceanic; oceanodromous; depth range 0 - 200 m
Climate
Subtropical
Distribution
Atlantic Ocean: in tropical and temperate waters. We follow Nakamura 1985 in recognizing Makaira mazara and Makaira nigricans as two distinct species chiefly because of differences in the pattern of the lateral line system. Many scientists, however, do not recognize this character as specifically diagnostic and consider the latter species as a single pantropical species occurring in the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian oceans. 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: commercial; gamefish: yes
Resilience
Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (K=0.1-0.3)

Sources

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

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