Credit: Illustration by Diane Rome Peebles
Family Istiophoridae
Description: color of body dark blue, shading to silvery, white underneath; dorsal fin bluish, others brown-black; two dorsal fins, the first lengthy, its front forming a peak; two anal fins, the anus well in front of the first; upper jaw prolonged into spear, its cross section round
Similar fish: white marlin, Tetrapterus albidus
Where found: offshore in deep water
Size: relatively small species
Remarks: uncommon; available data indicate that the spearfish matures at 2 years of age, and rarely lives past 4 to 5 years; they are pelagic, and feed at or near the surface, mainly on fishes and squid; named for Al Pflueger, Sr., founder of Pflueger Taxidermy
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