Marlin
ExploreFish
Marlin
Makaira nigricans
Marlins are fast and powerful fish that live in the open ocean. They have long, pointed bills and beautiful blue and silver bodies.
Habitat: Open ocean
Appearance
The Marlin has a sleek, torpedo-shaped body, typically dark blue to black on top and silvery-white below. Its most distinctive feature is a long, pointed bill that extends from its head, along with a rigid dorsal fin running almost the length of its back.
KingdomAnimaliaPhylumChordataClassActinopterygiiOrderIstiophoriformesFamilyIstiophoridaeGenusMakaira
Category
FishRarity
Common
Danger
2/5 · Low
Snaps
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Interesting facts
Female Marlins grow much larger than males, sometimes weighing four times more!
Marlin are one of the ocean's fastest fish, often called the "cheetah of the sea!"
Marlin can change their skin color quickly to blend in or show excitement during hunting.
They are solitary hunters, spending most of their lives alone in the open ocean.
Special abilities
Ability
Bill Attack
Marlin has a strong, pointed bill that helps them stun and injure schooling fish by slashing through groups at high speed.
Ability
Warm Brain
Marlin can keep their brain and eyes warm using a special heat exchanger, helping them see clearly in cold, deep waters.
Measurements & details
- Length
- 100-500 cm
- Weight
- 50-900 kg
- Lifespan
- 18-27 years
- Swim Speed
- 110 km/h
- Maximum Depth
- 600 m
- Water Type
- Saltwater
Diet & Feeding
Marlin are top ocean predators, eating many kinds of fish and squid with their pointed bill.
Primary Foods
- tuna
- mackerel
- dorado
- squid
- bonito
- flying fish
Foraging Method
- Pursuit
Ecological connections
hunts
Shortfin Mako Shark
Isurus oxyrinchus
Mako sharks can prey on juvenile marlin.
eaten by
Yellowfin Tuna
Thunnus albacares
Marlin actively hunt fast-swimming tuna.
eaten by
Atlantic Mackerel
Scomber scombrus
A common prey fish for marlin.
eaten by
Dolphin Fish
Coryphaena hippurus
A fast-swimming prey for marlin.
Traits
Wildlife
Wildlife encompasses all undomesticated animal and plant life existing in their natural habitats.
Aerial
Aerial creatures spend a significant portion of their lives airborne, utilizing flight for various activities such as hunting, migration, or nesting.
Piscivorous
Piscivorous organisms are animals that primarily subsist on a diet of fish.
Thermoregulating
Thermoregulating organisms maintain a stable internal body temperature despite fluctuations in the external environment.
Carnivorous
This trait identifies organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of animal tissue.
Speedster
This trait identifies organisms that exhibit exceptional swiftness in movement for hunting, escape, or travel.
Aquatic
Aquatic habitats encompass environments where organisms live predominantly in water, including oceans, rivers, lakes, and wetlands.
Marine
Marine habitats encompass all saltwater environments of the Earth's oceans, supporting an immense diversity of aquatic life.
Also known as
Black MarlinBlue MarlinStriped Marlin
Collections
Safety
Danger
2/5 · Low
Admire marlins from a safe distance and never try to touch them in the wild.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is Marlin?
100-500 cm
How much does Marlin weigh?
50-900 kg
How long does Marlin live?
18-27 years
What does Marlin eat?
Marlin are top ocean predators, eating many kinds of fish and squid with their pointed bill.
How fast can Marlin swim?
110 km/h
Where is Marlin usually found?
Open ocean
How does Marlin hunt?
Pursuit
How deep can Marlin go?
600 m
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