This article is about the fish. For the submarines, see USS Sailfish. For the small sailboat, see Sailfish (sailboat).

Sailfish Temporal range: 59–0 Ma PreЄ Є O S D C P T J K Pg N Paleogene to Present[1]
Indo-Pacific sailfish, Istiophorus platypterus
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	Perciformes
Family:	Istiophoridae
Genus:	Istiophorus Lacépède, 1801
Species:	see below
Binomial name
Istiophorus albicans, Istiophorus platypterus Latreille, 1804, Shaw, 1792

Sailfish are two species of fish in the genus Istiophorus, living in warmer sections of all the oceans of the world. They are predominately blue to gray in color and have a characteristic erectile dorsal fin known as a sail, which often stretches the entire length of the back. Another notable characteristic is the elongated bill, resembling that of the swordfish and other marlins. They are therefore described as billfish in sport fishing circles.

Both species of sailfish grow quickly, reaching 1.2–1.5 metres (3 ft 10 in–4 ft 10 in) in length in a single year, and feed on the surface or at mid-depths on smaller pelagic forage fish and squid. Individuals have been clocked at speeds of up to 110 kilometres per hour (68 mph), which is the highest speed reliably reported in any water creature.^[2][3] Generally, sailfish do not grow to more than 3 metres (9.8 ft) in length and rarely weigh over 90 kilograms (200 lb).

An Indo-Pacific sailfish exhibiting sail-raising behavior

The sail is normally kept folded down and to the side when swimming, but it may be raised when the sailfish feels threatened or excited, making the fish appear much larger than it actually is. This tactic has also been observed during feeding, when a group of sailfish use their sails to "herd" a school of fish or squid.

Sailfish are highly prized game fish and are known for their incredible jumps and great speed. They can appear in a startling array of colors, from subdued browns and grays to vibrant purples and even silver. Their body colors are often highlighted by stripes of iridescent blue and silver dots. Sailfish can change their colors almost instantly - a change controlled by their nervous system. The sailfish can rapidly turn its body light blue with yellowish stripes when excited, confusing its prey and making capture easier, while signalling its intentions to fellow sailfish.^[4]

Species[link]

• Atlantic sailfish (Istiophorus albicans).
• Indo-Pacific sailfish (Istiophorus platypterus).

References[link]

• Froese, Rainer, and Daniel Pauly, eds. (2008). Species of Istiophorus in FishBase. March 2008 version.

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Istiophorus

• Images from National Geographic

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