Striped marlin (Tetrapturus audax)

Scientific name: Tetrapturus audax Philippi, 1887

The Striped marlin (Tetrapturus audax) is a marine fish of the family Istiophoridae. In the aquarium it needs water at 20–25°C (68–77°F).

Striped marlin care at a glance

Temperature
20–25°C (68–77°F)

Biology

Epipelagic and oceanic species, usually found above the thermocline. Generally inhabit cooler water than either black (Makaira indica) or blue marlin (M. mazara). Most dominant and widely distributed of all billfishes. Their abundance increases with distance from the continental shelf. Usually seen close to shore only where deep drop-offs occur. Mostly solitary, but form small schools by size during the spawning season. They are usually dispersed at considerably wide distances. Feed on fishes, crustaceans and squids. Also caught with the harpoon. The flesh is the best among billfishes for sashimi and sushi. Marketed mostly frozen, sometimes fresh; also smoked and frozen. Also.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name
Tetrapturus audax
Family
Istiophoridae (Billfishes)
Order
Perciformes (Perch-like fish)
Class
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length
420
Common length
290
Depth range
0–200 m (0–656 ft)
Environment
Marine; pelagic-oceanic; oceanodromous; depth range 0 - 200 m
Climate
Subtropical
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: tropical, subtropical and temperate waters. Highly migratory species, Annex I of the 1982 Convention on the Law of the Sea.The distribution in the Pacific Ocean is unique among billfishes and tunas in that it forms a horseshoe-shaped pattern from the northwest Pacific through the eastern Pacific to the southwest Pacific. In the Indian Ocean, fish are more densely distributed in equatorial regions with higher concentrations off eastern Africa, in the western Arabian Sea, the Bay of Bengal and off northwestern Australia.
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 (rm=0.09; K=0.2-0-6; tm=2-3;)

Sources

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

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