Britannica AI Icon

shortbill spearfish

fish
Also known as: Tetrapterus angustirostris, Tetrapterus brevirostris, short-nosed spearfish(Show More)

Quick Summary

The shortbill spearfish, scientifically known as T. angustirostris, is a marine fish belonging to the genus Tetrapterus within the Istiophoridae family. It is distinguished by its relatively short snout compared to other billfish. This species is found in the Pacific Ocean and is considered scarce and rather small for a billfish, typically not exceeding 1.8 meters (6 feet) in length or 27 kilograms (60 pounds) in weight. Its coloration is blue on its upper side and silvery on its underside. Another species, T. belone, is a Mediterranean form that resembles the shortbill spearfish.1

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
2 Britannica Sources
  1. spearfish
  2. spearfishing: Top Questions

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.