The northward expansion and some biological characteristics of Mediterranean spearfish, Tetrapturus belone Rafinesque, 1810, in the Aegean Sea, Türkiye

Yusuf ŞEN, İsmail Burak DABAN

Abstract

The Mediterranean spearfish, Tetrapturus belone is one of the top pelagic migratory predator and well-known around Tyrrhenian Sea. Due to the limited knowledge on its biology, ecology and distribution, each data related T.belone arouses curiosity. In the present study, two individuals were accidentally caught by commercial longlines and trammel nets in the Babakale coast and Mavra Island, North Aegean Sea, Turkiye. The lower jaw total length and weight of the 1st individual was determined as 1.7 meters and 30 kilograms, respectively. The morphometric and meristic characteristics, sex, maturity stage, and stomach content of 2nd individual was recorded. The individual measured as 1.55 meters in length, 13.15 kilograms in weight. The sex was determined as female and the gonad was detected as a developing stage. Garfish, Belone belone individuals of various sizes were detected as prey.

Keywords

Istiophoridae, Billfishes, Incidental Catch, North Aegean Sea, Stomach content

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References

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