Istiophorus platypterus

So smooth.
So swift.
Darting.
Gliding.
Everyone knows if the sailfish shows up, the best the others can hope for is second.
They’re okay opponents: marlin, mako shark, swordfish.
But they feel like seahorses when they’re up against you—the sailfish: the fastest sprinter in the sea!

Scientists clocked this speedster doing 68 mph while leaping into the air.  Not enough is known about this coy contender.  She lives in both the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, preferring warm waters.  Sailfish have been observed using their sails and working with other sailfish to round up and enclose their prey.  They then strike their victims with their bills and snack on the catch of the day.  The more excited a sailfish feels, the more colorful and brilliant her sail becomes!  

While many anglers practice “catch and release” to help protect the sailfish and her fishy friends, commercial fishing still poses a major threat to all underwater animal athletes.  To learn more about protecting these wonders in the water, visit the National Coalition for Marine Conservation (www.savethefish.org).