| MadSci Network: General Biology |
What a beautiful fish! Sailfish and its cousin the marlin are CARNIVORES, meaning they are meat-eaters. They like very warm water but sometimes are found pretty far north if they ride a warm-water current like the Gulf Stream. They are found in both the Atlantic and Pacific. Sailfish eat smaller fish and alos squid. They don't spear them on their sword-like bill. It is not clear if the "sword" has any use at all other than making these very fast fish more streamlined. Some ICHTHYOLOGISTS (scientists who study fish) believe it is used to stun their prey. So it may be used more like a stick than a sword to bop the small fish on the head. Then its dinner time. For more information I've selected some good web sites. Check these out! http://sportsmans-paradise.com/species/atlanticmarlin.html http://www.wec.ufl.edu/Extension/symbols/sailfish.htm http://www.extremescience.com/fastinsea.htm
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