Marlin 161507 226175554 2008-07-17T04:25:17Z Geronimo20 332930 update tp {{otheruses}} {{Taxobox | name = Marlin | image = Marlin.png | image_caption = [[Striped marlin]], ''Tetrapturus audax'' | regnum = [[Animal]]ia | phylum = [[Chordata]] | classis = [[Actinopterygii]] | ordo = [[Perciformes]] | familia = '''Istiophoridae''' | subdivision_ranks = Genera | subdivision = ''[[Istiophorus]]''<br> ''[[Makaira]]''<br> ''[[Tetrapturus]]'' }} '''Marlin''', '''''Istiophoridae''''', also called '''Spearfish''', are a family, of large marine [[fish]]es, of which several are popular in [[big-game fishing]]. They have an elongated body that in the larger species can exceed 4 [[metre|m]] (13&nbsp;[[foot (unit of length)|ft]]) in length, a [[spear]]-like [[snout]], and a long rigid [[dorsal fin]], which extends forwards to form a crest. The [[common name]] is thought to derive from its notional resemblance to a sailor's [[marlinspike]].<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=marlin | title = marlin | work = Online Etymological Dictionary | author = Douglas Harper | date = November 2001 }}</ref> Marlin are known to be incredibly fast swimmers, reaching speeds in of about 80 km/h (50 mph).<ref>http://www.thetravelalmanac.com/lists/fish-speed.htm</ref> The larger species include the [[Atlantic blue marlin]], ''Makaira nigricans'', which have been reliably recorded in excess of 2 m (7 ft) in length and 120 [[kilogram|kg]] (250 [[pound (mass)|lb]]) in weight, and the [[Black marlin]], ''Makaira indica'', which have been reliably recorded in excess of 5 m (16 ft) in length and 670 kg (1,470 lb) in weight. They are popular [[sport fishing|sporting fish]] in certain tropical areas. Marlin are rarely table fare. Most modern [[sport fishermen]] release marlin after unhooking. However, the old fisherman in [[Ernest Hemingway]]'s novella ''[[The Old Man and the Sea]]'' was storied to have caught an 18-foot marlin in order to sell its meat at market. Some marlin that are top record setting fish are taken and weighed on shore. Those records are most often recorded in the [[International Game Fish Association|IGFA]] World Record Game Fish books. == Further reading == * {{FishBase family|family=Istiophoridae|year=2005|month=November}} * Clover, Charlie. 2004. ''The End of the Line: How overfishing is changing the world and what we eat''. Ebury Press, London. ISBN 0-09-189780-7 == References == {{reflist}} == External links == * [http://www.igfa.org International Game Fish Association] * [http://www.tunaclub.com/publichome.htm The Tuna Club - oldest sport fishing organization] * [http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article700043.ece News article: Marlin spears fisherman as it leaps across boat] * [http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=7692201 'Ghost Fish' Revelation May Alter Marlin's Status] from [[National Public Radio]] {{fisheries and fishing}} [[Category:Istiophoridae| ]] [[Category:Sport fish]] [[fa:نیزه‌ماهی]] [[de:Marline]] [[es:Istiophoridae]] [[fr:Istiophoridae]] [[it:Marlin]] [[lt:Buriažuvinės]] [[nl:Zeilvissen]] [[ja:カジキ]] [[pl:Żaglicowate]] [[pt:Marlim]] [[th:กระโทง]] [[zh:旗魚]]