Black marlin
Scientific name: Istiompax indica (Cuvier, 1832)
Overview
The black marlin is a species of marlin found in tropical and subtropical areas of the Indian and Pacific Oceans approximately between 40 degrees North and 45 degrees South, while in some instances venturing into more temperate waters. Reaching lengths of over 4.5 m (15 ft), it is one of the largest marlins and also one of the largest bony fish. Marlin are among the fastest fish, but speeds may be exaggerated in popular media, such as reports of 129 km/h (80 mph). A 2016 study estimated maximum swimming speeds from muscle contraction times, which in turn limit the tail-beat frequency; the study suggested a theoretical upper limit for the black marlin's burst speed of 36 km/h (22 mph).
From the Wikipedia article “Black marlin”, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Conservation status
Data Deficient on the IUCN Red List, as recorded on Wikidata, citing The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2022.2.
Common names
Names in other languages (11)
- Arabic
- مرلين أسود هندي
- Chinese
- 印度枪鱼, 印度槍魚, 白肉旗魚, 立翅旗魚, 翹翅仔
- French
- Makaire Noir, Marlin Noir
- German
- Schwarzer Marlin
- Indonesian
- Marlin hitam
- Japanese
- シロカジキ
- Persian
- نیزهماهی سیاه
- Portuguese
- Marlim-preto
- Russian
- Чёрный марлин
- Spanish
- Aguja Negra, Marlin Negro, Picudo Negro
- Turkish
- Istiompax
Related animals
Sources
-
Catalogue of Life — scientific name, classification, common names.
Version 2026-09-11, CC BY 4.0.
This species in the Catalogue of Life.
Citation
Bánki, O., Roskov, Y., Döring, M., Ower, G., Hernández Robles, D. R., Plata Corredor, C. A., Stjernegaard Jeppesen, T., Örn, A., Pape, T., Hobern, D., Garnett, S., Little, H., DeWalt, R. E., Miller, J., Orrell, T., Aalbu, R., Abbott, J., Aedo, C., Aescht, E., et al. (2026). Catalogue of Life (Version 2026-09-11). Catalogue of Life Foundation, Amsterdam, Netherlands. https://doi.org/10.48580/dgz5n Source database: FishBase.
- GBIF — species page and recorded occurrences.
- Wikidata — conservation status, names in other languages. Q998315, CC0 1.0.
- Wikipedia — overview, from the article “Black marlin”, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Photo — Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons. File page.
Last updated: 4 October 2026