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Istiophorus Platypterus/Sailfish/Ikan Layaran


Sekelompok ikan layaran sedang berburu makanan yakni ikan-ikan umpan berukuran kecil. Dari foto ini terlihat seekor ikan layaran sedang memukul ikan kecil dengan paruhnya/bill. (Foto diambil dari www.nationalgeographic.com)

Minggu (20/09/09) pukul 15.30 wib Mancing Mania Trans|7 akan menayangkan episode "Dancing Sailfish". Hasil fishing trip ke HOT SPOT ikan layaran paling bergengsi di seluruh Asia Tenggara. Lokasi tepatnya dimana baiknya Anda tonton saja acaranya, kita sama-sama menunggu. Hehehehe. Di tayangan tersebut ikan layaran akan melompat-lompat ke udara seperti layaknya penari lihai. Sangat mengaggumkan. Bagaimana kalau sebelum menonton kita mengenal lebih jauh mengenai ikan ini. Hanya sebuah copy paste dari dokumen yang tersebar di internet. Semoga berguna. Thanks.

Istiophorus (Lacépède, 1801)

Kingdom: Animalia. Phylum: Chordata. Class: Actinopterygii. Order: Perciformes. Family: Istiophoridae. Genus: Istiophorus (Lacépède, 1801). Species: Istiohorus albicans, Istiophorus platypterus.

Sailfish are two species of fishes in the genus Istiophorus, living in warmer sections of all the oceans of the world. They are blue to grey in color and have a characteristic erectile dorsal fin known as a sail, which often stretches the entire length of the back. Another notable characteristic is the elongated bill, resembling that of the swordfish and other marlins. Both species of sailfishes grow quickly, reaching 1.2-1.5 m (4-5 ft) in length in a single year, and feed on the surface or at mid-depths on smaller pelagic forage fish and squid. Individuals have been clocked at speeds of up to 110 km/h (70 mph), which is the highest speed reliably reported in a fish.[2] Generally, sailfish do not grow to more than 3 m (10 ft) in length and rarely weigh over 90 kg (200 lb), although larger specimens have been seen off the shores of Costa Rica.


The sail is normally kept folded down and to the side when swimming, but it may be raised when the sailfish feels threatened or excited, making the fish appear much larger than it actually is. This tactic has also been observed during feeding, when a group of sailfish use their sails to "herd" a school of fish or squid. Sailfish are highly prized game fish and are known for their incredible jumps. The sailfish also turns its body light blue with stripes when excited, confusing some fish and making it easier to catch prey.

Istiophorus platypterus (Shaw, 1792)
Indo-Pacific sailfish

::Size / Weight / Age:: Max length : 348 cm FL male/unsexed; (Ref. 40637); common length : 270 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 9308); max. published weight: 100.2 kg (Ref. 40637); max. reported age: 13 years (Ref. 53742). ::Environment:: Pelagic-oceanic; oceanodromous (Ref. 51243); marine; depth range 0 - 200 m (Ref. 54238), usually 30 - ? m (Ref. 9688). ::Climate / Range:: ::Subtropical:: 50°N - 43°S, 16°E - 71°W (Ref. 43)

Distribution
Indo-Pacific: tropical and temperate waters approximately 45°- 50°N and 40°-35°S in the western Pacific, 35°N and 35°S in the eastern Pacific; 45°S in western Indian Ocean and 35°S in eastern Indian Ocean. Entered Mediterranean Sea from Red sea via Suez Canal. Highly migratory species, Annex I of the 1982 Convention on the Law of the Sea (Ref. 26139). Some authors recognize a single worldwide species, Istiophorus platypterus (Shaw & Nodder 1792) but we follow Nakamura 1990 (Ref. 10820) retaining the usage of Istiophorus platypterus for the Indo-Pacific sailfish and Istiophorus albicans for the Atlantic sailfish in recognition of the differences between them.

Short description
Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 47 - 53; Anal spines: 2; Anal soft rays: 12 - 15. Body elongate and compressed; upper jaw prolonged into a very long beak; two dorsal fins, the first very large and tail; pelvic fins narrow but very long, almost reaching anus, with 1 spine and 2 rays; body covered with small, embedded scales with 1 or 2 blunt points; back dark with about 20 bluish vertical bars; belly pale silver; membrane of first dorsal fin blue black with numerous dark spots (Ref. 55763). A slender billfish with a high, sail-like first dorsal fin (Ref. 26938).

Biology
Oceanic and epipelagic species usually found above the thermocline. Most densely distributed in waters close to coasts and islands (Ref. 9688). Most likely schools by size. Undergoes spawning migrations in the Pacific (Ref. 43). Feeds mainly on fishes, crustaceans and cephalopods. Utilized fresh, smoked and frozen; also used for sashimi and sushi; eaten broiled and baked (Ref. 9987).

* Data source: www.fishbase.org, www.nationalgeographic.com, www.wikipedia.org
* Photo source: www.floridafishinginfo.net, www.britannica.com

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