Tetrapturus Belone
– Mediterranean Spearfish –
| Conservation status |
|---|
 Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)[1] |
| Scientific classification |
Tetrapturus belone
Rafinesque, 1810
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Istiophoriformes |
| Family: | Istiophoridae |
| Genus: | Tetrapturus |
| Species: | T. belone |
The Mediterranean spearfish (Tetrapturus belone) is a species of marlin native to the Mediterranean Sea where it is particularly common around Italy, although there is a probable record of one caught off Madeira.[1] It is an open-water fish, being found within 200 metres (660 ft) of the surface. This species can reach a length of 240 centimetres (94 in) TL. The heaviest recorded specimen weighed in at 70 kilograms (150 lb) This species is of minor importance to commercial fisheries.[2]
The Imperial Garfish [2] ( Tetrapturus belone ) is a large sea fish of the Istiophoridae family .
Description
Despite the common name this fish has nothing in common with the garfish , it is in fact a close relative of the marlin of the tropical seas. The overall appearance is therefore very similar to the latter with elongated rostrum on the upper jaw, fusiform body in the anterior part and flattened on the caudal peduncle, first long dorsal fin with anterior portion forming a raised lobe. It is very similar to the white marlin , rare in the Mediterranean but has a pointed rather than rounded dorsal fin lobe, much shorter pectoral fins , shorter rostrum. It is recognized by swordfish due to the short rostrum and the long first dorsal fin (which in swordfish is short and high).
The livery is dark gray-blue, sometimes almost black on the back and white on the belly, with the two colors separated by a clear line.
It reaches, and exceeds, 2 meters in length and 50 kg in weight.
Distribution and Habitat
It is an endemic fish of the Mediterranean Sea where it is most present in the central region. This range is singular since in general the endemic fish of the Mediterranean are small coastal and benthic species and not large pelagic animals . It has always been well known in the Strait of Messina region while it was much less common in the other Italian seas. For some years it has expanded its range towards the north probably following the phenomenon of the southernization of the Mediterranean Sea . It is a migratory species and always appears in the same places in the same period.
Its way of life is typically pelagic, it lives offshore in open waters without any relationship with the bottom and is found only occasionally near the coast.
Related species
Tetrapturus georgii (Lowe, 1841) ( Atlantic marlin in Italian) is a typical species of theeastern Atlantic Ocean which sometimes penetrates the Mediterranean Sea. It is very similar to the imperial garfish, from which it is distinguished above all by the much longer pectoral fins. It does not exceed 2 meters in length.
Alimentation
It feeds on fish and pelagic cephalopods . Its most frequent preys are saury , garfish and clupeidae .
Reproduction
It is spring and summer. Eggs and larvae are pelagic. Juveniles have unique and very high dorsal fins like sailfish .
Biology
He is a solitary animal. Almost all the specimens are accompanied by one or more remora of the Remora osteochir species .
Fishing
It is threatened by professional fishermen who catch it both with nets and with longlines or harpoons , using the same tools used for swordfish . It is understandably popular with sport fishermen too . Fishing is mainly trolled . The meats are excellent, similar to those of swordfish.
