Atlantic sailfish facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Atlantic sailfish |
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| Two men holding a freshly caught Atlantic sailfish | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Istiophoriformes |
| Family: | Istiophoridae |
| Genus: | Istiophorus |
| Species: |
I. albicans
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| Binomial name | |
| Istiophorus albicans (Latreille, 1804)
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The Atlantic sailfish (Istiophorus albicans) is a super cool marine fish. It belongs to the same family as the marlin. You can find this amazing creature in the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea. It swims near the surface but can dive down to about 200 m (656 ft).
Sailfish are known for being incredibly fast swimmers! In the 1920s, some thought they could sprint up to 111 kilometres per hour. However, most experts now believe they swim between 37 to 55 kilometres per hour. More recent studies suggest their top speed is around 36 km/h (22 mph).
These speedy fish are skilled hunters. They mostly eat groups of fish like sardines, anchovies, and mackerel. They also enjoy munching on crustaceans and cephalopods like squid.
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Discover the Atlantic Sailfish
The Atlantic sailfish is easy to spot with its shiny metallic blue body. It has a huge fin on its back that looks like a boat's sail. Its snout is long and pointed, like a sword. The top of its body is dark bluish-black, and its sides are lighter. This helps it blend in with the ocean.
You can see about twenty bluish stripes along its sides. Its belly is silvery white. The tail fin is shaped like a strong fork, perfect for fast swimming. All its fins are bluish-black, and the big dorsal fin has tiny black spots.
Size and Weight
This impressive fish can grow quite large. It can reach up to 3.15 m (10.3 ft) in length. The heaviest Atlantic sailfish ever recorded weighed about 58.1 kg (128.1 lb). That's heavier than some people!
How Sailfish Hunt
Scientists have studied how sailfish hunt. They use their long, pointed bill to catch prey. They often sneak up on schools of fish. Then, they quickly slash or tap their bill to stun the smaller fish. This makes it much easier for them to grab their meal. The bill is a very important tool for hunting!
Where Atlantic Sailfish Live
The Atlantic sailfish lives in the open ocean, both in tropical and warmer parts of the Atlantic. They travel a lot, moving from about 40°N in the northwest Atlantic all the way down to 40°S in the southwest Atlantic. They also swim into the Mediterranean Sea. They prefer warm surface waters but can dive down to about 200 m (656 ft).
See also
In Spanish: Pez vela del Atlántico para niños
