Swordfish/Billfish Identification Southeast Fisheries Science Center Pelagic Observer Program - Billfish Identification

Billfish/swordfish Xiphiidae Istiophoridae swordfish single caudal keel pelvic fins absent ‘bill’ section flat (or depressed) 1st & 2nd dorsal fins separate scales absent billfish, marlins, spearfish, sailfish two caudal keel pelvic fins present (rigid & tapering) ‘bill’ section round 1st & 2nd dorsal fins close scales present

XIPHIIDAE – SWORDFISH Xiphias gladius SWO Common size:1.2-1.6 m Surface smooth Bill depressed in cross section Dorsal fins well separated No teeth Pelvic fins absent Single strong caudal keel No scales on body 3

XIPHIIDAE – SWORDFISH Xiphias gladius SWO http://www.fpir.noaa.gov/Graphics/OBS/obs_billfish/obs_swordfish/obs_swordfish1.jpg

XIPHIIDAE – SWORDFISH Xiphias gladius SWO Hawaii Longline Observer Program - http://ias.pifsc.noaa.gov/lds/lods_resources.html

ISTIOPHORIDAE – SAILFISH Istiophorus albicans SAI Common size:1.0-1.5m Blue-black, high, sail-like 1st dorsal fin with dark spots, may be folded back From Nakumura 1985: Pectoral fins and caudal fin long in immature specimens to about 90 cm body length (Fig. 26); attains smaller size (about 60 kg maximum body weight). Field Marks: First dorsal fin sail-like and remarkably higher than greatest body depth; pelvic fins very long, nearly reaching to anus, with a well developed membrane; pectoral and caudal fins long compared with those of Istiophorus platypterus in young fish up to about 90 cm body length Pelvic fins long & narrow, much longer than pectoral fins, extending at least 2/3 to ¾ of body length Body slender; usually with vertical bars on sides 4

ISTIOPHORIDAE – SAILFISH Istiophorus albicans SAI Southeast Fisheries Science Center Pelagic Observer Program - Billfish Identification 1

ISTIOPHORIDAE – SAILFISH Istiophorus albicans SAI http://www.fpir.noaa.gov/Graphics/OBS/obs_billfish/obs_sailfish/obs_sailfish1.jpg

ISTIOPHORIDAE – SAILFISH Istiophorus albicans SAI http://www.sefsc.noaa.gov/gallery/Billfish_Images/006-psat_and_conventional_tagging_sailfish.JPG.html

ISTIOPHORIDAE – BLUE MARLIN Makaira nigricans BUM Common size:2.5m Dorsal and pectoral fins pointed Most of dorsal fin low; blue-black & no spots Field Marks : Body not very compressed; nape highly elevated; height of anterior lobe of first dorsal fin less than greatest body depth; lateral line system chickenwire-shaped Pelvic fins short (no longer than pectoral fins) lateral line system chickenwire-shaped Body robust, may grow very large 4

BLUE MARLIN - BUM Makaira nigricans Photo from fishbase: ©Baumeier, Eduardo - 21.06.02 Double caudal keel

ISTIOPHORIDAE – BLUE MARLIN Makaira nigricans BUM Photo: Simon Gulak Photo: Simon Gulak

ISTIOPHORIDAE – BLUE MARLIN Makaira nigricans BUM Photo: Simon Gulak Photo: Clay Archambault (from WWF-South Africa Responsible Fisheries Program training materials

*Occasional migrant in southeast Atlantic ISTIOPHORIDAE – BLACK MARLIN Makaira indica BLM Common size: 1.7-2.1m Most of dorsal fin low; blue-black & no spots Dorsal and pectoral fins pointed Dorsal is ½ or LESS greatest body depth Pectoral fin rigid & sickle shaped; not foldable against body Field Marks : Body not very compressed; nape highly elevated; height of anterior lobe of first dorsal fin smaller than greatest body depth; second dorsal fin slightly forward of second anal fin; pectoral fins rigid, not adpressible against sides of body. Lateral line simple Reticulate (chain pattern) lateral line in juveniles 4 *Occasional migrant in southeast Atlantic 14

BLM

ISTIOPHORIDAE – BLACK MARLIN Makaira indica BLM Photo: from WWF-South Africa Responsible Fisheries Program training materials

ISTIOPHORIDAE – WHITE MARLIN Tetrapturus albidus WHM Common size:1.5m Dorsal fin rounded with many dark spots. Posterior portion of dorsal fin relatively close to body. Lateral line arched over pectoral fins Tip of first dorsal fin, pectoral fins and first anal fin rounded First dorsal fin spotted; scales on midbody pungent, each scale elongate with 1 or 2 spines (Fig.35) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Tetrapturus albidus Field Marks : Anterior lobe of first dorsal fin rounded and higher than remainder of fin, the height decreasing gradually backward; anus situated near origin of first anal fin, the distance between them smaller than half of first anal fin height. Pelvic fins short (no longer than pectoral fins) Pectoral, anal & 1st dorsal fins rounded Anal opening very close to anal fin 4

ISTIOPHORIDAE – WHITE MARLIN Tetrapturus albidus WHM

ISTIOPHORIDAE – WHITE MARLIN Tetrapturus albidus WHM ©Chow, Seinen (Fishbase)

ISTIOPHORIDAE – WHITE MARLIN Tetrapturus albidus WHM http://portal.ncdenr.org/web/mf/marlin-white http://portal.ncdenr.org/web/mf/marlin-white

Tetrapturus pfluegeri SPF Common size:1.5m ISTIOPHORIDAE – LONGBILL SPEARFISH Tetrapturus pfluegeri SPF Common size:1.5m No spots on dorsal fin. Posterior portion relatively high off body. Upper jaw shorter than other bilfish Pelvic fins slightly longer than pectoral fins Pectoral fins generally wide & long Nakamura 1985 - Bill long, its length (X) usually equal to, or longer than, head length (Y); pectoral fins wide and long, more than 18% body length Field Marks : Bill long, its length usually equal to or slightly longer than head length; pectoral fins wide, long and rounded, longer than 18% of body length; anus situated far anterior to first anal fin origin, the distance between anus and anal fin origin nearly equal to anal fin height. Anal opening about the same distance as anal fin height 4

ISTIOPHORIDAE – LONGBILL SPEARFISH Tetrapturus pfluegeri SPF ©Jueguen Santiago Barreiro (Fishbase)

Tetrapturus angustirostris SSP Common size:1.35m ISTIOPHORIDAE – SHORTBILL SPEARFISH Tetrapturus angustirostris SSP Common size:1.35m No spots on dorsal fin. Posterior portion relatively high off body. Bill very short (<15% length) Pectoral fins narrow & short Pelvic fins longer than pectoral fins Field Marks : Bill very short, usually less than 15% of body length; pectoral fins narrow and short, less than 15% of body length; distance between anus and anal fin oriyin nearly equal to anal fin height 2b) First dorsal fin (X) lower than body depth (Y) at level of midbody, not saillike; pelvicfin rays short, well separate from origin of anal fin, with moderately developed membrane (Fig. 4a. Height of anterior lobe of first dorsal fin (X) s l i g h t l y g r e a t e r than, or nearly equal to, body depth (Y); nape slightly elevated or not elevated (Fig.28); body well compressed laterally; vertebrae 12+12=24 5a. Anterior lobe of first dorsal fin slightly higher than rest of fin which remains of about equal height almost to the end (Figs 27,30,31,32); anus situated far anterior to first anal fin origin (Fig.29), the distance between them (X) greater than height of first anal fin (Y) 6a. Bill short, its length (X) usually equal to, or shorter than, head length (Y); pectoral fins narrow and short, less than 18% of body length (Figs 30, 31) 7a. Bill very short, less than 15% of body length Anal opening about the same distance as anal fin height *Occasional migrant in southeast Atlantic 4

Tetrapturus angustirostris SSP ISTIOPHORIDAE – SHORTBILL SPEARFISH Tetrapturus angustirostris SSP http://www.fpir.noaa.gov/Graphics/OBS/obs_billfish/obs_shortbill_spearfish/obs_shortbill_spearfish1.jpg

No spots on dorsal fin. Posterior portion relatively high off body. ISTIOPHORIDAE – ROUNDSCALE SPEARFISH Tetrapturus georgii RSP Common size:>1.0m No spots on dorsal fin. Posterior portion relatively high off body. Tip of first dorsal fin, pectoral fins and first anal fin rounded Scales on midbody soft and rounded Tip of first dorsal fin, pectoral fins and first anal fin rounded First dorsal fin unspotted; scales on midbody s o f t and rounded (Fig.34).........Tetrapturus georgei Field Marks : First dorsal fin unspotted; tips of first dorsal and anal fins rounded; distance between anus and anal fin origin nearly equal to half of anal fin height; scales on mid-body soft and round. Anal opening about half the distance of anal fin height 4

Sexing Swordfish Male Female triangular in shape (cross section) & smooth exterior in cross section, contains a small opening (lumen) with smooth edges no granules visible Color: white to pink oval/circular shape (cigar or sausage shaped) rough (striated) external appearance in a cross section, the presence of a lumen (opening) near the center with somewhat rough edges small granules (eggs) frequently present Color: variable, ranges from gray (indicating immature egg production) to orange (indicating near spawning). Generally, swordfish and tuna over 250 pounds are female. Photos from : NMFS. 2007b. Northeast Fisheries Observer Program, Fisheries Observer Program Manual. NOAA Fisheries Service, Northeast Fisheries Science Center, Woods Hole, MA.

Sexing Swordfish Male Southeast Fisheries Science Center Pelagic Observer Program - Billfish Identification 1

Southeast Fisheries Science Center Pelagic Observer Program - Billfish Identification 1

Southeast Fisheries Science Center Pelagic Observer Program - Billfish Identification 1

Southeast Fisheries Science Center Pelagic Observer Program - Billfish Identification 1

Sexing Billfish Arrow pointing to location of gonads when fish is split open. These gonads are ovaries (female). Hawaii Longline Observer Program Field Manual. 2010. Honolulu, HI, Manual Version: LM.01.10 1

Sexing Billfish Mature ovaries (female) Hawaii Longline Observer Program Field Manual. 2010. Honolulu, HI, Manual Version: LM.01.10 1

Sexing Billfish Cross section of an immature ovary. Notice the granulated texture of the lumen. Hawaii Longline Observer Program Field Manual. 2010. Honolulu, HI, Manual Version: LM.01.10 1

Sexing Billfish Arrows pointing to testes Hawaii Longline Observer Program Field Manual. 2010. Honolulu, HI, Manual Version: LM.01.10 1

Sexing Billfish Cross section of a testis. Notice the smooth texture compared to the granulated texture of the ovary. Hawaii Longline Observer Program Field Manual. 2010. Honolulu, HI, Manual Version: LM.01.10 1

References Southeast Fisheries Science Center Pelagic Observer Program - Atlantic Tunas and Tuna-like Species Identification. Schneider 1990 Gulf of Guinea Field Guide Chapman, L., P. Sharples, D. Brogan, A. Desurmont, S. Beverly, and W. Sokimi. 2006. Marine species identification manual for horizontal longline fishermen. Secretariat of the Pacific Community, New Caledonia. Nakamura, I. 1985 FAO Species Catalogue. Vol. 5. Billfishes of the world. An annotated and illustrated catalogue of marlins, sailfishes, spearfishes and swordfishes known to date. FAO Fish. Synop. 125(5):65 p.