Photo. (c) 2019 John Nevill.
Photo. (c) 2019 John Nevill.
Photo. (c) 2019 John Nevill.
Genus: Carangiformes (Jacks), Istiophoridae (Billfishes)
Scientific Name: Makaira nigricans
English Name: Blue marlin
Creole Name: Espadron ble
French Name: Makaire bleu
IUCN Red List Status: Vulnerable (VU)
Description:
Dorsal spines: 3; Dorsal rays: 25-27; Anal rays: 24-25.
Greyish to greenish brown dorsally, with small pale spots. Whitish ventrally with yellow spots that can coalesce to form a reticulum particularly posteriorly. 3 large
oval white spots along the back and a small one dorsally on caudal peduncle; a broad white streak often on side of body posterior to upper end of gill opening. White
blotches and mid-lateral stripe can disappear with growth. An oblique groove before the eye; large bony scales behind gill opening. Caudal peduncle depressed, slender
and tapering. Yellow bands on dorsal and anal fins. Caudal fin, yellow with white bars and stripes pattern and diffuse black margin, double emarginate, lobes longer
with growth.
Size:
Maturity: Lm unknown. Range unknown. Max Length: 60cm TL
Habitat and Ecology:
Reef associated. Inhabits mud and silt sand bottoms (depth 7-350m), usually 7-100m depth on sand, sponge, and weed bottoms. Feeds on benthic animals, including crabs,
molluscs and sea urchins. Juveniles in sheltered coastal bays and estuaries.
Fishery Status:
This species is not protected or subject to fishery regulations. It is caught in both the fish trap and hand line fisheries and is, along with Sufflamen fraenatum,
the most commonly caught triggerfish in the artisanal fishery.
Notes:
Abalistes stellaris is a synonym for this species.
References:
Bray, D.J. (2018). Abalistes stellatus in Fishes of Australia, http://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/759 (30/10/18).
Froese, R. & D. Pauly. Eds. (2018). FishBase https://www.fishbase.de/summary/abalistes-stellatus (30/10/18)
Matsuura, K. (2015). Taxonomy and systematics of tetraodontiform fishes: a review focusing primarily on progress in the period from 1980 to 2014. Ichthyol Res (2015)
62:72–113 DOI 10.1007/s10228-014-0444-5
Matsuura, K. & Motomura, H. (2015). Abalistes stellatus. The IUCN Red List 2015: e.T193587A56996805. https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/193587/56996805 (18/06/22). .
Matsuura K, Yoshino T (2004). A new triggerfish of the genus Abalistes (Tetraodontiformes: Balistidae) from the western Pacific. Rec Aust Mus 56:189-194
Smith, M & Heemstra, P Eds. (1999). Smiths’ Sea Fishes Edition 6. Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 10.1007/978-3-642-82858-4
Citation:
Nevill, J.E.G. & Mason-Parker, C. (2019). Abalistes stellatus, Starry triggerfish. Seychelles Seatizens. www.seatizens.sc. https://seatizens.sc/species/abalistes-stellatus-anonymous-1798/ (updated 18/06/22).
Description:
Dorsal spines: 0; Dorsal rays: 45-50; Anal spines: 0; Anal rays: 19-23.
Body elongate, not very compressed. Upper jaw extended into long bill, extremely stout and round in cross section. Nape strongly elevated. Both jaws and roof of mouth with
small, file-like teeth. Lateral line a network of interconnecting canals. Two dorsal fins. Height of anterior lobe of first dorsal fin less than greatest body depth. Second
dorsal fin slightly posterior to second anal fin. Two anal fins. Pectoral fins long and narrow. Pelvic fins shorter than the pectorals and depressible into deep ventral
grooves. Caudal peduncle fairly compressed (laterally) and slightly depressed (dorsoventrally), with strong double keels on each side and a shallow notch on both the dorsal
and ventral surfaces.
Colour. Body blue-black dorsally shading to silvery white ventrally. About 15 bars of pale, cobalt-coloured round dots and/or narrow bars on the flanks. First dorsal fin
blackish or dark blue, other fins blackish brown, sometimes tinged with dark blue; bases of first and second anal fins tinged with silvery white.
Size:
Maturity: Lm unknown. Range: 50 - ? cm for females and 80 - ? cm for males. Females grow larger. Max Length: 500cm TL. Typically to 290cm TL.
Habitat and Ecology:
Pelagic-oceanic species (depth 0-100 m, usually 0-40 m) not usually encountered close to land unless in the vicinity of a steep drop-off from the shelf. Feeds during the day
mostly upon squids, tuna-like fishes, crustaceans, and cephalopods. Usually found as scattered individuals, rarely in small schools of up to 10.
Fishery Status:
This species is not protected or subject to fishery regulations. It is targeted and caught in the semi-industrial longline fishery, it is a rare catch in the artisanal fishery.
Notes:
Formerly considered as 2 species, one in the Atlantic (M. nigricans) and the other Indo-pacific (M. mazara). Now considered a single species with M. mazara a synonym of M. nigricans.
References:
Collette, B. et al. (2011). Makaira nigricans. The IUCN Red List 2011: http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2011-2.RLTS.T170314A6743776.en. (15/08/19).
Froese, R. & D. Pauly. (Eds.) (2019). FishBase. https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Makaira-nigricans (15/08/19).
Citation:
Nevill, J.E.G. (2019). Makaira nigricans, Blue marlin. Seychelles Seatizens. www.seatizens.sc. https://seatizens.sc/species/makaira-nigricans-lacepede-1802/ (edited 08/07/22).
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