Synopsis of Biological Data on Blue Marlin, 

 Makaira nigricans Lacepede, 1802 



L. R. RIVAS 1 



1 IDENTITY 



1.1 Nomenclature 



1.11 Valid name 

 Makaira nigricans Lacepede, 1802. 



1.12 Objective synonymy 



Tetrapturus herschelli Gray, 1838. 



Tetrapturus amplus Poey, 1860. 



Tetrapturus mazara Jordan and Snyder, 1901. 



Makaira bermudae Mowbray, 1931. 



Eumakaira nigra Hirasaka and Nakamura, 1947. 



Makaira perezi de Buen, 1950. 



Istiompax howardi Whitley, 1954. 



1.2 Taxonomy 

 1.21 Affinities 



Suprageneric 



Phylum Chordata 

 Subphylum Vertebrata 

 Superclass Gnathostomata 

 Class Teleostomi 

 Subclass Actinopterygii 

 Order Perciformes 

 Suborder Xiphioidei 

 Superfamily Xiphioidae 

 Family Istiophoridae 



Generic 



Genus Makaira Lacepede, 1802. 



Makaira Lacepede, 1802 (type species Makaira nigri- 

 cans Lacepede, 1802). 



Statement of generic concept: According to my in- 



'Southeast Fisheries Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, 

 Miami, Fla.; present address: Panama City Laboratory, Southeast 

 Fisheries Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, NOAA, Pan- 

 ama City, FL 32401. 



terpretation, the black marlin, indica, should be 

 placed in the genus Makaira in addition to nigricans 

 (see 1.22 Taxonomic status). Therefore, the genus 

 Makaira comprises only two species. 



Subjective generic synonyms: 



Tetrapturus (not of Rafinesque, 1810) Cuvier in 

 Cuvier and Valenciennes, 1831 (type species Tet- 

 rapturus indicus Cuvier, 1832). 



Machaera Cuvier, 1832 (type species Machaera vel- 

 ifera Cuvier, 1832 by monotypy). 



Macaria Nardo, 1833 (amended spelling of Ma- 

 kaira). 



Istiompax Whitley, 1931 (type species Istiompax 

 australis Whitley, 1931, nomen nudum). 



Eumakaira Hirasaka and Nakamura, 1947 (type 

 species Eumakaira nigra Hirasaka and Naka- 

 mura, 1947). 



Orthocraeros Smith, 1956 (type species Makaira 

 bermudae Mowbray, 1931). 



Diagnosis: Makaira is distinguished from all the 

 other genera of the family Istiophoridae (Istiophorus, 

 Tetrapturus) by the following characters: 



Anterior height of first dorsal fin less than depth of 

 body at origin of first dorsal fin. Second predorsal 

 length 75 to 79% of body length. Precaudal vertebrae 

 11, caudal 13. Flesh pale. Maximum weight more 

 than 682 kg (1,500 lb), often weighing more than 182 

 kg (400 lb), and usually more than 114 kg (250 lb). 



Specific 



Identity of type specimen: A sketch of a 365 kg (803 

 lb) Makaira nigricans, blue marlin, sent to Lacepede 

 (see Morrow, 1959b). 



Type locality: lie de Re, Bay of Biscay, France. 



Diagnosis: Makaira nigricans is distinguished from 

 M. indica by the following characters: pectoral joint 

 flexible, the fin folding flat against the sides of body 

 without breaking joint. Median ridge in isthmus pre- 

 sent. Anterior height of first dorsal fin about equal to, 

 or longer than distance between origin of first dorsal 

 fin and insertion of pectoral fin. Lateral line not visi- 



