Species learning profile
Mediterranean spearfish
Tetrapturus belone
Mediterranean spearfish (Tetrapturus belone) is a saltwater fish associated with open ocean habitat in Mediterranean. This billfish is largely restricted to the Mediterranean Sea.
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At a glance
- Eau
- Eau salée
- Habitat
- Haute mer
- Longueur maximale
- 240 cm
- Répartition
- Mediterranean
- Famille
- Istiophoridae
- Ordre
- Istiophoriformes
Observe
How to identify Mediterranean spearfish
- This billfish is largely restricted to the Mediterranean Sea.
- Guide context: open ocean habitat in Mediterranean.
- Reported maximum length: 240 cm — a genuinely giant fish. Maximum is not the same as typical adult size.
Field note: color, size, and markings can change with age, sex, season, depth, and lighting. Use several traits together.
Place and pattern
Where it lives—and how it behaves
Habitat and range
This species is associated with open ocean habitat across Mediterranean. With little fixed shelter, currents, temperature fronts, depth, and moving prey define its open-ocean world.
Behavior
Follows seasonal concentrations of prey
Food-web connections
What it eats and why it matters
Diet
Fish and squid.
Ecological role
A regionally distinctive pelagic predator.
Remember
One fact worth keeping
Mediterranean spearfish peut atteindre environ 240 cm et vit souvent près de Haute mer.
Think like a conservationist
A conservation lens
Wide-ranging ocean fish can cross many jurisdictions, so bycatch, harvest limits, and international cooperation matter.
This habitat lens is not a current population-status assessment. Status can differ among regions and change as new assessments are published; follow the reference links and local fisheries or wildlife agencies for current decisions.
Recall
Quick knowledge check
Which habitat is most closely associated with Mediterranean spearfish in this guide?
Keep exploring
References and further reading
Fishdle summarizes stable identification and ecology concepts in plain language. Taxonomy and population knowledge continue to change, so use primary assessments and regional authorities for conservation or management decisions.
Make connections