What is a Sailfish?

A sailfish is a fish that lives in the Pacific and Atlantic oceans. They are blue with white underbellies, and they have a special type of dorsal fin almost as long as their body and much higher than the dorsal fin of any other fish. Sailfish usually are about 6-8 feet long. While tracking the sailfish, scientists have discovered that sailfish prefer warmer waters. Sailfish are related to billed fish like swordfish or marlins, which means that its upper jaw is much longer than the lower jaw.

Diet

Sailfish usually eat small squid and octopuses. They also feed on flying fish, tunas, mackerels, and other fish.

Predators

Dolphins, larger fish, and a few birds eat sailfish, but they give a pretty good fight.

Features of the Sailfish

The Speed

Sailfish can reach speeds of 68 miles per hour, making it the fastest animal in the water.

Reproduction

When sailfish hatch out of their eggs, they are less than an inch long. In a year, they can grow up to 6 feet!

Hunting Style

Sailfish hunts in groups. When there is a school of fish, sailfish drive them to the surface till there is no way for them to escape. Then they use their sword-like bill to slash through schools of fish, hitting and injuring one or two fish. This makes it easier to hunt.

How do they escape Predators?

Sailfish need nothing else but their speed to escape from predators.

 

Why are Sailfish so Important?

Sailfish are predators of many animals, so they play an important role in many food chains by balancing the amount of squid, octopus, or fish, but due to over fishing, sailfish populations are decreasing.