Animal Profiles
Fish

Black Marlin

Istiompax indica

Living

Living individuals or members of this group exist today. This does not mean they are safe from extinction.

The black marlin is a large predatory billfish of the Indo-Pacific. A stout spear-like upper jaw and rigid pectoral fins distinguish its silhouette from those of many other ocean fishes.

Black marlin (Istiompax indica) photographed alongside a fishing boat.

Black marlin (Istiompax indica) photographed alongside a fishing boat.

jamesh111 · CC BY

At a glance

Location
Istiompax indica, called Makaira indica in some older sources, occupies tropical and subtropical Indo-Pacific waters. It is highly mobile and can approach islands, reefs and coastlines as well as offshore areas.
Habitat
Open ocean, Coast
Diet
Carnivore
Food
Black marlin eat fishes, squid, cuttlefish and other marine animals.

Classification

Common name
Black Marlin
Browse group
Fish
Scientific name or taxon
Istiompax indica
Taxon rank
species
Order
Perciformes
Family
Istiophoridae
Genus
Istiompax
Source classification
Actinopterygii

Taxonomy checked against GBIF. For breeds and hybrids, this describes the listed parent taxon.

Three things to know

  • It has a robust bill.
  • Its pectoral fins are rigid.
  • It hunts fishes and squid.

Habitat and range

Istiompax indica, called Makaira indica in some older sources, occupies tropical and subtropical Indo-Pacific waters. It is highly mobile and can approach islands, reefs and coastlines as well as offshore areas.

Appearance and adaptations

The long body is dark blue above and silvery beneath. The upper jaw forms a robust bill. The pectoral fins are stiff, and the first dorsal fin is lower than the body's greatest depth.

Diet and behaviour

Black marlin eat fishes, squid, cuttlefish and other marine animals. Small tunas can be important prey where abundant. Its movements carry it between productive feeding areas rather than a fixed small territory.

Sources

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