Black marlin

A marine fish belonging to the family Marlinidae, order Perciformes, class Osteichthyes. Along with the Pacific marlin, it is one of the larger species of billfish, reaching a total length of 4 meters and a weight of 500 kilograms. Its pectoral fins are uniquely shaped, pointing upright outwards and unable to be attached to the side of the body. Its English and Japanese names come from the change in body color from black-brown to grayish white after death. Shirokawa and Katahari are also known as these fish. They are coastal fish, found mainly in the waters from Southeast Asia to Australia, and also migrate to the waters near Japan. The fishing season in the East China Sea is from September to December, and they are mainly caught with drift nets.

[Shoji Ueyanagi]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

硬骨魚綱スズキ目マカジキ科に属する海水魚。クロカジキとともにカジキ類中の大形種で、全長4メートル、体重500キログラムに達する。胸びれは外方に直立していて、体側に接着できない特異な形状が特徴。英名、和名は、死後の体色が黒褐色から灰白色に変化することに由来する。シロカワ、カタハリは別称。沿岸性でおもに東南アジアからオーストラリア海域に分布し、日本近海にも回遊する。東シナ海での漁期は9～12月、主として流し網で漁獲される。

［上柳昭治］

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