Mediterranean spearfish

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Mediterranean spearfish
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Istiophoriformes
Family: Istiophoridae
Genus: Tetrapturus
Species:
T. belone
Binomial name
Tetrapturus belone
Synonyms
  • Histiophorus belone (Rafinesque, 1810)
  • Makaira belone (Rafinesque, 1810)
  • Skeponopodus typus Nardo, 1833
  • Scheponopodus prototypus Canestrini, 1872

The Mediterranean spearfish (Tetrapturus belone) is a species of marlin native to the Mediterranean Sea where it is particularly common around Italy, although there is a probable record of one caught off Madeira.[1] It is an open-water fish, being found within 200 metres (660 ft) of the surface. This species can reach a length of 240 centimetres (94 in) TL. The heaviest recorded specimen weighed in at 70 kilograms (150 lb) This species is of minor importance to commercial fisheries.[2]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b Collette, B. & Heessen, H. (2015). "Tetrapturus belone". The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2015: e.T170334A48680954. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2015-1.RLTS.T170334A48680954.en.
  2. ^ Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.) (2013). "Tetrapturus belone" in FishBase. August 2013 version.