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Australian Wildlife

  Indo-Pacific Sailfish (Istiophorus platypterus)





Indo-Pacific Sailfish | Istiophorus platypterus photo
Indo-Pacific Sailfish

Image by Totodu74 - License: Public Domain.    (view image details)







FISH FACTS

Description
Distinctive elongated sword-like upper jaw, elongated body and sail-like dorsal fin. Dorsal surface of body dark with a series of vertical stripes; lighter below.

A fast predatory fish that is highly migratory. Feeds on fishes, crustaceans and cephalopods (the group that includes octopus, cuttlefish, squid). A popular sportfish reaching 100 kg.

Author credit: Michael Hammer / Museum & Art Gallery of the Northern Territory

Habitat
Open, oceanic waters.

Food
Carnivore

Range
Around Australia.


Species Description is from Museums Field Guide, Atlas of Living Australia at website at https://lists.ala.org.au Licensed under Creative Commons Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.




Classification
Class:Actinopterygii
Order:Perciformes
Family:Istiophoridae
Genus:Istiophorus
Species:platypterus
Common Name:Indo-Pacific Sailfish