Tetrapturus angustirostris Tanaka, 1915
Shortbill spearfish
Tetrapturus angustirostris
photo by FAO

 Family:  Istiophoridae (Billfishes)
 Max. size:  230 cm TL (male/unsexed); max.weight: 52 kg
 Environment:  pelagic-oceanic; depth range 0 - 1830 m, oceanodromous
 Distribution:  Indian and Pacific: tropical and temperate waters. Although some stray individuals are found in the Atlantic Ocean, this species is believed to have its spawning grounds and principal populations only in the Pacific and Indian Oceans. Highly migratory species, Annex I of the 1982 Convention on the Law of the Sea (Ref. 26139).
 Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 51-57; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 18-23. Dark blue above, blue splattered with brown on the sides, silvery white below; 1st dorsal fin plain dark blue, other fins brown or dark brown; anal fin bases with tinges of silvery white.
 Biology:  Oceanic and epipelagic, found above the thermocline (Ref. 9308). Feeds on fishes, cephalopods and crustaceans. Also caught as a by-catch of long lines with hooks intended for tuna. Marketed frozen and prepared as fish cakes and sashimi in Japan (Ref. 9308). Also prepared as sausages.
 IUCN Red List Status: Data deficient  (Ref. 96402)
 Threat to humans:  harmless
 Country info:   
 

 Entered by: Froese, Rainer - 01.05.91
 Modified by: Valdestamon, Roxanne Rei - 10.06.15
 Checked by: Garilao, Cristina V. - 03.07.95

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