| Marlin | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Atlantic blue marlin(Makaira nigricans) | |
Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Carangiformes |
| Suborder: | Menoidei |
| Superfamily: | Xiphioidea |
| Family: | Istiophoridae Rafinesque, 1810 |
| Type genus | |
| Istiophorus Lacépède, 1801 | |
| Genera | |
Marlins are fish from thefamilyIstiophoridae, which includes between 9 and 11species, depending on the taxonomic authority.
The family'scommon name is thought to derive from their resemblance to a sailor'smarlinspike.[1]
The family name Istiophoridae comes from the genusIstiophorus which first placed the speciesIstiophorus platypterus byGeorge Kearsley Shaw in 1792 from the Greek wordἱστίονistion meaning "sail" that describes the shape of the species's dorsal fins.[2]: 6
Marlins have elongated bodies, aspear-likesnout or bill, and a long, rigiddorsal fin which extends forward to form acrest.
Marlins, an apex predator, are among the fastest marine swimmers. However, greatly exaggerated speeds are often claimed in popular literature, based on unreliable or outdated reports.[3]
The larger species include theAtlantic blue marlin,Makaira nigricans, which can reach 5 m (16 ft) in length and 820 kg (1,810 lb) in weight[4] and theblack marlin,Istiompax indica, which can reach in excess of 5 m (16 ft) in length and 670 kg (1,480 lb) in weight. They are popularsporting fish in tropical areas. The Atlantic blue marlin and thewhite marlin are endangered due tooverfishing.[5]
Marlins can change colour, lighting up their stripes just before attacking prey.[6]
The marlins areIstiophoriform fish, most closely related to theswordfish (which itself is the sole member of the familyXiphiidae). Thecarangiformes are believed to be the second-closest clade to marlins. Although previously thought to be closely related toScombridae, genetic analysis only shows a slight relationship.
| Image | Genus | Living species | Common name |
|---|---|---|---|
 black marlin | Istiompax (Whitley, 1931) | Istiompax indica | black marlin |
.png) Atlantic sailfish | Istiophorus (Lacépède, 1801) | I. albicans | Atlantic sailfish |
| I. platypterus | Indo-Pacific sailfish | ||
.png) Atlantic blue | Makaira (Lacépède, 1802) | Makaira nigricans (Lacepède, 1802) | Atlantic blue marlin |
| Makaira mazara (Jordan &Snyder, 1901) | Indo-Pacific blue marlin | ||
.png) white marlin | Kajikia (Hirasaka & H. Nakamura, 1947) | Kajikia albida (Poey, 1860) | white marlin |
| Kajikia audax (Philippi (Krumweide), 1887) | striped marlin | ||
.png) longbill | Tetrapturus (Rafinesque, 1810) | Tetrapturus angustirostris (S. Tanaka (I), 1915) | shortbill spearfish |
| Tetrapturus belone (Rafinesque, 1810) | Mediterranean spearfish | ||
| Tetrapturus georgii (R.T. Lowe, 1841) | roundscale spearfish | ||
| Tetrapturus pfluegeri (C. R. Robins &de Sylva, 1963) | longbill spearfish |
Marlins have a continuous fossil record from the Miocene onwards, with the oldest uncontroversial fossil dated to 22 million years ago.[7] It is thought that they probably evolved in theParatethys Sea.[8]
The following fossil genera are known:[9][10]
In theNobel Prize–winning authorErnest Hemingway's 1952 novelThe Old Man and the Sea, the central character of the work is an aged Cuban fisherman who, after 84 days without success on the water, heads out to sea to break his run of bad luck. On the 85th day, Santiago, the old fisherman, hooks a resolute marlin; what follows is a great struggle between man, sea creature, and the elements.
Frederick Forsyth's story "The Emperor", in the collectionNo Comebacks, tells of a bank manager named Murgatroyd, who catches a marlin and is acknowledged by the islanders ofMauritius as a master fisherman.
A marlin features prominently in the last chapter and climactic scenes ofChristina Stead'sThe Man Who Loved Children. Sam's friend Saul gives Sam a marlin, and Sam makes his children help him render the fish's fat.
TheMiami Marlins, a professional baseball team based in Miami, Florida, is named after the fish.
InFinding Nemo, Nemo's father's name is Marlin.
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| Marlin |
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