The largest billfish, the Atlantic blue marlin weighs up to 820 kg (1800 lb) and has been classified as a vulnerable species.[1][2]
Scientific classification
Domain:
Eukaryota
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Chordata
Class:
Actinopterygii
Clade:
Percomorpha
Order:
Istiophoriformes
Informal group:
"Xiphioids"
Families:
Xiphiidae
Istiophoridae
†Hemingwayidae
†Palaeorhynchidae
†Blochiidae
The billfish are a group of saltwater predatory fish characterised by prominent pointed bills (rostra), and by their large size; some are longer than 4 m (13 ft). Extant billfish include sailfish and marlin, which make up the family Istiophoridae; and swordfish, sole member of the family Xiphiidae. They are often apex predators which feed on a wide variety of smaller fish, crustaceans and cephalopods. These two families are sometimes classified as belonging to the order Istiophoriformes, a group which originated around 71 million years ago in the Late Cretaceous, with the two families diverging around 15 million years ago in the Late Miocene.[3] However, they are also classified as being closely related to the mackerels and tuna within the suborder Scombroidei of the order Perciformes.[4] However, the 5th edition of the Fishes of the World does recognise the Istiophoriformes as a valid order, albeit including the Sphyraenidae, the barracudas.[5]
Billfish are pelagic and highly migratory, and are found in all oceans.[6] Although they usually inhabit tropical and subtropical waters, swordfish are also found in temperate waters. Billfish use their long spear/sword-like upper beaks to slash at and stun prey during feeding. Their bills have been known to impale prey, and have sometimes even accidentally impaled boats and people, but they are not intentionally used for this purpose.[7] They are highly valued as game fish by sports fishermen.
^Makaira nigricans Archived 29 November 2016 at the Wayback Machine bioSearch. Updated: 20 January 2011.
^Cite error: The named reference IUCNMMnigricans was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^Santini, F.; Sorenson, L. (2013). "First molecular timetree of billfishes (Istiophoriformes: Acanthomorpha) shows a Late Miocene radiation of marlins and allies". Italian Journal of Zoology. 80 (4): 481–489. doi:10.1080/11250003.2013.848945. S2CID 83901839.
^Joseph S. Nelson (2006). Fishes of the World(PDF). John Wiley & Sons Limited. pp. 430–434. ISBN 978-0-471-25031-9.
^Nelson, JS; Grande, TC & Wilson, MVH (2016). "Classification of fishes from Fishes of the World 5th Edition" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 March 2020. Retrieved 10 May 2018.
^Ken Schultz: Ken Schultz's Fishing Encyclopedia. 1999. "http://www.gofishn.com/content/billfish# Archived 7 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine"
^"Sea Wonder: Swordfish". National Marine Sanctuary Foundation. Retrieved 21 December 2023.
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Global Information![The largest billfish, the Atlantic blue marlin weighs up to 820 kg (1800 lb) and has been classified as a vulnerable species.[1][2]](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b9/Atlantic_blue_marlin.jpg/220px-Atlantic_blue_marlin.jpg)
