Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
Istiophoridae

Istiophoridae

9.9
A group of large sea fish like marlin and sailfish with long spear-like bills
  • noun
  • /ˌɪstiəˈfɔːrɪdeɪ/
  • Specialized
translation icon : Istiophoridae
  • Species from the billfish family (Istiophoridae) were most preferred (first choice) by 71% of the respondents.

Examples

  • The Istiophoridae family includes famous fish like marlins and sailfishes, known for their impressive speed.

  • Researchers study the Istiophoridae family to learn more about their migration patterns across the oceans.

  • Many anglers dream of catching a giant fish from the Istiophoridae family, such as the magnificent swordfish.

Surface Forms

Istiophoridae singular
Istiophoridae plural

Etymology

The word Istiophoridae comes from Greek parts istio ('sail') and phoros ('to carry'), so it means 'sail-bearer'. This is a helpful image because these fish, like sailfish and marlin, carry a big sail-like fin and a long, spear-like bill, which explains the name for this family of fast ocean fish.