sailfish

(also called ‘spike fish’, ‘spindle-beak’, ‘spindle-snoot’, ‘mylmeen’ (mostly in USA))

a kind of fish – finned and bony sea fish – a streamlined body in blue or grey with spear-shaped (long beak-like) upper jaw, sharp teeth, and the fin on the back grown large and spread out like a sail on a boat, two long spine-like growth from the bottom fin near the head, wide V shaped tail; size: 5-10 feet long, and weight: 50-100 kg; feeds on small fish that swim in schools (groups), such as sardines, mackerel, etc., and other sea animals, such as squid, octopus, etc; live for, on average, 5 years, but some live up to 10 years; two sub-species – Atlantic sailfish and Indo-Pacific sailfish, found in tropical and temperate waters of Pacific and Indian Ocean

[A group of sailfish is called a ‘school’.]

Special Features:

The ‘Atlantic sailfish’ is the state saltwater fish of Florida, USA.

The sailfish is the fastest fish in the world – with a record speed of 110 Km/h (68 mph)!

The two obvious features of the sailfish are the fin on the back which grows along the back that looks like a sail on a boat which can be spread and folded at will, and the long spear-like (beak-like) upper jaw that looks like the sword of a swordfish!

Another less obvious feature is the two very long spikes that grow from the under-side just behind the lower jaw.

Though they are not a popular food fish, the sailfish are a popular game fish – fished for fun or to keep as trophies!

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