This beautiful blue and white sailfish is made by Cabin Critters.
The Atlantic Sailfish, Istiophorus albicans, looks like a torpedo when it flashes through the water, all its fins held close to its body, its enormous dorsal fin - from which it gets its name - being folded down into a deep groove along the back. Its dark blue back and light-colored belly add to this illusion, and its sharp, cylindrical spear could well be taken as some strange sort of detonator for the sleek war head attached to it. This fish is truly streamlined.
Like their relatives the marlins, the sailfishes are popular with big-game fishermen. There are several species, but apparently only one is found in the Atlantic. The Indo-Pacific Sailfish, Istiophorus platypterus, is sometimes taken along the extreme southern coast of California. The Atlantic form is reported to reach 120 pounds, the Pacific species, at least 190. Their average weights are about 35 and 100 pounds respectively. They are said to attain the phenomenal speed of 68 miles per hour under water, but this is for short distances only. The record Atlantic sailfish caught with rod-and-reel weighed 123 pounds and was 10 feet 4 inches long.
Atlantic sailfish spawn during the summer. The very young fish have spiny heads and toothed jaws. During development both upper and lower jaws first become elongated, but only the upper one remains so, forming the spear. All spines and teeth are lost as the fish grows larger. The enlarged dorsal fin appears early in development, eventually becoming the enormous sail-like structure that is found in the adult.
Sailfish feed on squid and pelagic forage fish, such as sardines and anchovies.
The Sailfish stuffed animal shown here is made by Cabin Critters. Find it at our sponsor's online gift shop.
Class: Actinopterygii | Order: Perciformes | Family: Istiophoridae
