Atlantic sailfish

Tests in the 1920s estimated that they were capable of short sprints of up to 111 kilometres per hour, however, a more conservative estimates of 37 to 55 kilometres per hour are more widely accepted .

The Atlantic sailfish lives in the pelagic-oceanic, oceanodromous, marine, depth range 0 - 200 m environment.

The Atlantic sailfish is one of the smaller members of the Family Istiophoridae, with a maximum size of about 3.15 to 3.40 m in length and 100 kilograms. Females are generally larger than males. More

The Atlantic sailfish, Istiophorus albicans, is a species of marine fish in the family Istiophoridae of the order Perciformes. More

Shaw and Nodder first described the Atlantic sailfish in 1792 and assigned it the species name Xiphias platypterus. Some scientists believe that the Atlantic and Pacific sailfishes are separate species and apply the name I. albicans to the Atlantic form. More

The Atlantic Sailfish is related to the Marlin. More

Atlantic sailfish are found in tropical and temperate parts of the Atlantic Ocean, though juveniles have been found in the Mediterranean Sea. Adults can weigh up to 60kg. Females grow larger than the males. More

Atlantic Sailfish Population Decline and its Causes graphs showing western Atlantic sailfish/spearfish abundance and fishing pressure trends (ICCAT/SCRS) As shown in ICCAT's figure (above left), the western Atlantic sailfish/spearfish stock was relatively healthy during the 1960s. More

Atlantic sailfish are members of the billfish family and are related to the larger marlin. They are so closely related to the Pacific sailfish that there is still debate about whether they are the same species. More

The Atlantic Sailfish munches on small pelagic fish mackerels, tunas, jacks, half beaks and needlefish. Sometimes they even eat octopuses and squids. This eat on the surface sometimes but, usual feedings occur in the mid waters .They eat mostly near coral reefs edge. More

albicans for the Atlantic sailfish in recognition of differences between them. Diagnosis: Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Dorsal softrays (total): 48-53; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft-rays: 9-12; Vertebrates: 24-24. More

In the Atlantic sailfish has little value as a commercial fish, but catching a sailfish is one of the ultimate thrills in saltwater sport fishing. Sailfish catches off the Treasure Coast range from 40 - 180 pounds, can be taken year-round. More

Atlantic Sailfish on fly in the waters around Isla Mujeres. As usual with my luck the weather on day one was not very good. More

The Atlantic sailfish has been driven down to nearly 50% of its sustainable levels, with fewer and fewer adults remaining alive each year. More

The Atlantic sailfish, Istiophorus americanus, found north to Cape Cod in summer, averages 60 lb (27 kg) in weight, while the Pacific sailfish, I. orientalis, grows to 100 lb (45 kg). More

The Atlantic Sailfish inhabits tropical waters usually in depths over 6 fathoms. They appear to feed mostly in midwater along the edges of reef. They usually travel alone or in small groups. More

The Atlantic sailfish, Istiophorus albicans, is found in the Atlantic Oceans and the Caribbean Sea, except for large areas of the central North Atlantic and the central South Atlantic, from the surface to depths of 200 meters (656 feet). More

Common names

Abanico in Spanish (español)
Adjètè abadanon in Fon
Adjètè abadanon in Fon GBE
Aguja in Spanish (español)
Aguja de abanico in Spanish (español)
Aguja Palagar in Spanish (español)
Aguja vela in Spanish (español)
Aguja voladora in Spanish (español)
Agulhão in Portuguese (Português)
Agulhao bandeira in Portuguese (Português)
Agulhao de vela in Portuguese (Português)
Agulhao vela in Portuguese (Português)
Agulhao-bandeira in Portuguese (Português)
Agulhão-de-vela in Portuguese (Português)
Agulhão-vela in Portuguese (Português)
Atlantic sailfish in English
Atlanticheskii parusnik in Russian (русский язык)
Atlantinpurjekala in Finnish (suomen kieli)
Atlantischer Fächerfisch in German (Deutsch)
Atlantischer Segelfisch in German (Deutsch)
Atlantisk segelfisk in Swedish (Svenska)
Atlantisk seilfisk in Norwegian (Norsk)
Atlantisk sejlfisk in Danish (dansk)
Bashokajiki in Japanese (日本語)
Bicuda in Portuguese (Português)
Bicuda in Spanish (español)
Bicudo in Portuguese (Português)
billfish in English
caravela in Portuguese (Português)
Diénou doungue in Wolof (Wollof)
Doung doung in Wolof (Wollof)
Dung dung in Wolof (Wollof)
Espadarte-veleiro in Portuguese (Português)
Espadim-azul in Portuguese (Português)
Espadon in French (français)
Espadon voilier in French (français)
Espardarte veleiro in Portuguese (Português)
Fächerfisch in German (Deutsch)
Guebo in Portuguese (Português)
Guebucu in Portuguese (Português)
Istioforos Atlantikou in Greek (Ελληνικά)
Istioforos Atlantikou in Greek, Modern (1453)
Istiophorus in Dutch (Nederlands)
Istiophorus in French (français)
Istiophorus in Spanish (español)
Istiophorus albicans in French (français)
Jënu dung in Wolof (Wollof)
Malan in Wolof (Wollof)
Mère in French (français)
Mère balaou in Creole, French
Mère balaou in Creoles and Pidgins, French
Nishibashoo in Japanese (日本語)
Nishibashookajiki in Japanese (日本語)
Nsouambetou in Vili
Ocean gar in English
Ocean guard in English
Palagar in Spanish (español)
Parusnik in Russian (русский язык)
Parusnik-ryba in Russian (русский язык)
Peco in Portuguese (Português)
Peix vela in Catalan (Català)
Peixe andala in Creole, Portuguese
Peixe andala in Creoles and Pidgins, Portuguese
Peixe andala in Portuguese (Português)
Peixe de vela in Portuguese (Português)
Peixe-vela in Portuguese (Português)
Pesce vela in Italian (Italiano)
Pez vela in Spanish (español)
Pez vela del Atlántico in Spanish (español)
pez-vela in sp
Prieta in Spanish (español)
Purjekala in Finnish (suomen kieli)
Sailfish in English
Segelfisch in German (Deutsch)
Segelfisk in Swedish (Svenska)
Seilfisk in Norwegian (Norsk)
Seilvis in Afrikaans
Sejlfisk in Danish (dansk)
Squadron in French (français)
Valeiro-do-Atlántico in Portuguese (Português)
Veleiro in Portuguese (Português)
Veleiro do Atlantico in Portuguese (Português)
Veleiro-do-Atlântico in Portuguese (Português)
Voilier de l'atlantique in French (français)
Voladeira in Spanish (español)
Volador in Spanish (español)
Zegal-fisch in Dutch (Nederlands)
Zeilvis in Dutch (Nederlands)
Ιστιοφόρος Aτλαντικού in Greek (Ελληνικά)
Ιστιοφόρος Ατλαντικού in Greek, Modern (1453)
Парусник (рыба) in Russian (русский язык)
大西洋旗魚 in Mandarin Chinese
大西洋旗鱼 in Mandarin Chinese

Order : Perciformes
Family : Istiophoridae
Genus : Istiophorus
Species : Istiophorus albicans
Authority : Latreille, 1804