What type of animal is a sailfish?

What type of animal is a sailfish?

billfish
Sailfish are a type of billfish (like the blue marlin or swordfish) that are known not only for their pointed bills, but also their extraordinary dorsal fins that can be taller than the length of their bodies.

Are sailfish extinct?

Not extinct
Sailfish/Extinction status

Is sailfish rare?

Population. Sailfish are fairly abundant throughout their range, and their population is considered stable. They are under no special status or protections.

Is it legal to keep sailfish?

Almost all sailfish are released. Anglers must have a federal HMS angling permit to keep one, and the sailfish must be at least 63 inches long (measured from the tip of the lower jaw to the fork of the tail) to be legal to keep.

Are there two different species of Sailfish?

Two sailfish species have been recognized. No differences have been found in mtDNA, morphometrics or meristics between the two supposed species and most authorities now only recognized a single species, ( Istiophorus platypterus ), found in warmer oceans around the world.

What kind of fish does a Sailfish eat?

They are found near the ocean surface usually far from land feeding on schools of smaller fish like sardines and anchovies, which they often shepherd with their sails, making them easy prey. They also feast on squid and octopus.

Which is longer a Swordfish or a Sailfish?

The swordfish has a much longer bill whose length is about 44% of the body length, while the bill length is 17% of the body length in the case of sailfish. The ratios of the wetted area of bill to that of fish without fins are 1.2% and 7.2% for the sailfish and swordfish, respectively.

Why are sailfish and swordfish called billfish?

Another peculiar morphological feature from the sailfish and swordfish, hardly seen in other fast-moving fishes, is their long bill, a pronounced upper jaw much longer than a lower jaw, and thus they are called ‘billfish’. It has been reported that the billfish uses its bill to catch the prey or to defend itself from large predators [35] – [37].

What kind of fish is a Sailfish?

The Sailfish is a member of the marlin, or Istiophoridae, family. Aside from other marlin species, these fish share relatives with the swordfish and the barracuda. Within the marlin family, researchers place the two species of Sailfish in their own taxonomic genus, Istiophorus. Read on to learn about the Sailfish.

Is the Sailfish part of the Marlin family?

Within the marlin family, researchers place the two species of Sailfish in their own taxonomic genus, Istiophorus. Read on to learn about the Sailfish. A pair of intrepid fishermen dove into the water to haul in their Sailfish catch!

Where does a Sailfish get its food from?

They are members of the billfish family, and as such, have an upper jaw that juts out well beyond their lower jaw and forms a distinctive spear. They are found near the ocean surface usually far from land feeding on schools of smaller fish like sardines and anchovies, which they often shepherd with their sails, making them easy prey.

Why does a Sailfish have a sail on its back?

For this reason, many governing bodies consider only a single species valid, platypterus. The Sail – Despite the fact you’ve probably only ever seen one depicted with its sail up, this fish typically swims with the sail folded down to its back. This helps streamline its body and swim faster.