Tetrapturus is a genus of marlins commonly called spearfish or spearchucker fish in Eastern Europe, found in tropical and subtropical oceans throughout the world. Some are popular sport fish in big-game fishing.

Species

There are currently four recognized species in this genus:

• Tetrapturus angustirostris S. Tanaka (I), 1915 (Shortbill spearfish)

• Tetrapturus belone Rafinesque, 1810 (Mediterranean spearfish)

• Tetrapturus georgii R. T. Lowe, 1841 (Roundscale spearfish)

• Tetrapturus pfluegeri C. R. Robins & de Sylva, 1963 (Longbill spearfish)

Fossil relatives of spearfishes include Prototetrapturus from the Late Miocene of Algeria, and both Pizzikoskerma & Sicophasma from the late Miocene of Italy. All are placed in the clade Tetrapturomorpha.

References