Shortbill spearfish (Tetrapturus angustirostris)

Scientific name: Tetrapturus angustirostris Tanaka, 1915

Shortbill spearfish (Tetrapturus angustirostris)

The Shortbill spearfish (Tetrapturus angustirostris) is a marine fish of the family Istiophoridae.

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.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name
Tetrapturus angustirostris
Family
Istiophoridae (Billfishes)
Order
Perciformes (Perch-like fish)
Class
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length
230
Common length
190
Depth range
0–1830 m (0–6004 ft)
Environment
Marine; pelagic-oceanic; oceanodromous; depth range 0 - 1830 m
Climate
Subtropical
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.
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 (Assuming tm=2-4)

Sources

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

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