New 🐟 Mercury Safety Guide & Omega-3 Rankings Updated for 2026. View Omega-3 Rankings →

🌊 Marine Least Concern 🎣 Game Fish 🌡️ Subtropical 🎣 Game Fish

Atlantic white marlin

Kajikia albida Poey, 1860
Max Length
300 cm
Max Weight
82.5 kg
Lifespan
-
Trophic Level
4.5
Depth
0–150 m
Climate
Subtropical
Resilience
Medium
Vulnerability
41.00/100
Typical Length
210 cm
Depth Zone
pelagic

📖 Overview

Usually above the thermocline. Its distribution varies seasonally, reaching higher latitudes in both the northern and southern hemispheres only during the respective warm seasons. Usually found in deep (over 100 m) blue water with surface temperatures over 22°C and salinities of 35 to 37 ppt. Currents of 0.5 to 2 knots occur over much of its habitat. Feeds on fishes and squids. Females grow larger . Flesh is of excellent quality. Marketed fresh and frozen.

Scientific Name
Kajikia albida
Authority
Poey, 1860
Habitat
Marine
Climate
Subtropical
Body Shape
Elongated
IUCN Status
LC
Max Length
300 cm
Max Weight
82.5 kg
Depth Range
0–150 m
Latitude
45°S – 47°N
Trophic Level
4.5
Resilience
Medium
Vulnerability
41.00/100
Migration
Oceanodromous
Salinity
30–40 ppt

🔬 Taxonomy

🐟 Physical Description

Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 43 - 52; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 17 - 23. Blue-black above, silvery white and splattered with brown on the sides, silvery white below; sometimes with more than 15 rows of obscure whitish stripes; 1st dorsal fin dark blue with black dots; 2nd dorsal fin dark blue; pectorals blackish brown, with tinges of silvery white in some specimens; pelvic fins blue-black with a black fin membrane; caudal fin blackish brown.: elongated.

🌀 Behaviour

Behavioural data for Atlantic white marlin is currently being reviewed.

🦐 Diet

Diet information for Atlantic white marlin is currently being compiled.

🥚 Reproduction

Size at Maturity
164cm TL

Migrates into subtropical waters to spawn, with peak spawning occurring in early summer. The spawning areas are found in deep and blue oceanic waters, generally at high temperatures ranging from 20° to 29°C except in the southern Atlantic gyrals, and high surface salinities (over 35 ppt).

🌍 Habitat & Distribution

Marine; pelagic-oceanic; oceanodromous ; depth range 0 - 150 m , usually 0 - 100 m . Subtropical; 22°C - ? ; 47°N - 45°S, 99°W - 27°E Atlantic Ocean: roughly from 45°N to 45°S in the southwestern Atlantic and 35°S in the southeastern Atlantic.

🌿 Ecology

Zone Preferences
🌊 Marine 🐟 Pelagic
Migration
Oceanodromous
Trophic Level
4.5±0.4
Food Items

fishes and squids

📐 Morphometrics

Length–Weight Relationship: W = 0.00447 × L3.14 (TL)
Max TL
300cm
Max Weight
82,500g
Dorsal Rays
48
Anal Rays
20

🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance

Salinity Range
30–40ppt

🛡️ Conservation Assessment

IUCN Category
Least Concern
Assessment Date
2021

📊 Population Risk & Fisheries

Population Resilience
Medium
Minimum doubling time
Fishing Vulnerability
41.00/100
Moderate vulnerability
Trophic Level
4.5
Apex / Top predator
Body Shape
Elongated
Climate Zone
Subtropical
Latitude Range
47°N – 45°S
Described By
Poey, 1860

🌐 Names & Taxonomy

Language Common Names
🇬🇧English Atlantic white marlin · Atlantic white marlin, White Marlin · Marlin · Skilligalee · White marlin
🌍AFR Atlantiese Witmarlyn
🇸🇦Arabic مرلين أبيض أطلسي
🏳️Catalan Marlí blanc
🌍CES marlín bělavý
🇩🇪German Weißer Marlin (Atlantik) · weißer Marlin
🌍ELL Marlinos Atlantikou
🇫🇮Finnish valkomarliini
🇫🇷French Espadon · Makaire blanc · Makaire blanc de l'Atlantique
🇮🇹Italian Augghia peddirina · Augghia pilligrina · Marlin bianco
🇯🇵Japanese ニシマカジキ
🇰🇷Korean 백새치
🇳🇱Dutch witte marlijn
🇵🇹Portuguese Espadim-branco-do-Atlântico · agulhão-branco · marlim-branco
🇷🇺Russian Атлантический белый копьеносец
🇪🇸Spanish Aguja Blanca · Aguja Blanca del Atlántico · Aguja de Costa · Aguja de Paladar · Alfiler · Alton · Blanca · Cabezona · Cometa · Pez Aguja · marlin blanco

Scientific Synonyms

Scientific Name Author Year Status
Lamontella albida Poey 1860 Synonym
Makaira albida Poey 1860 Synonym
Makaira lessonae Canestrini 1861 Synonym
Terapturus albidus Poey 1860 Synonym
Tetrapterus albidus Poey 1860 Synonym
Tetrapturus albidus Poey 1860 Synonym
Tetrapturus lessonae Canestrini 1861 Synonym

🗺️ Global Occurrence Map

Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 13 records indexed .

Occurrence density from GBIF View GBIF records ↗

👥 Community & Contribute

Aquareap Community Observations
0 Observations logged on Aquareap

No observations yet - be the first to log one!

View all observations for Atlantic white marlin ↗
Suggest an Edit

Spotted incorrect or outdated data? Submit a correction and our editorial team will review it. Approved edits go live within 48 hours.

Link to a scientific paper, FishBase, or other authoritative source
Report an Issue

Found a factual error, broken data, or inappropriate content? Let us know and we will investigate promptly.