Sailfish Vs Marlin: The Difference Between Billfish Revealed!

Sailfish and marlin look so similar to each other that it is difficult to differentiate between them.

Sailfish and marlin both belong to the category of billfish. But there are some characteristics that make them different species, despite being found in the same tropical waters and temperate waters. 

A billfish is a name given to the category of fishes that possess a prominent bill, also called a sharp snout. A billfish is very large in size and is known for being an excellent predator.

In fact, it is one of the apex predators in the marine world that often comes to the water's surface. A human being is the only organism that eats marlin. The billfish category includes many fish, like sailfish, marlin, and swordfish.

All these fish look similar in structure but have very different features and behaviors that can help us differentiate them, like their dorsal fins and prey-hunting nature. These fish species are generally found in the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific oceans.

After reading about the features of Atlantic sailfish and marlin, also check out these amazing marlin facts, and salamander life cycle.

Is there a difference between sailfish and marlin?

Sailfish and marlin fish both belong to the same family and are billfish. Still, they have some differences that make them distinguishable from one another. They may look similar at first glance, maybe even after some more observations, but if you pay attention to the small details, you can tell the difference between a sailfish and a marlin.

The biggest difference between a sailfish and a marlin is their dorsal fins. A sailfish has a sail-like dorsal fin, which gives it the name 'sailfish', while a marlin has a sloping dorsal fin.

The dorsal fins of marlin fish are peaked at the front and have a gentle slope backward. These fins will help you detect which fish is a sailfish and which one is a marlin.

A sailfish is smaller in size than a marlin. A sailfish can grow up to 11 ft (3.3 m) long, while a marlin is on average 14 ft (4.3 m) long. The blue marlin is the biggest marlin in its family. This also adds up to the weight variations in these fish.

Are marlin and sailfish the same thing?

Sailfish and marlin are both predatory fish and belong to the same family of Istiophoridae in the group of billfish. But they are not the same fish. There are a lot of differences in their behaviors. For example, sailfish hunt in groups and in a coordinated manner, while marlin fish hunt alone.

Marlins are more durable than sailfish. A sailfish is a very strong and fast fish. It will not give up until it gets what it needs.

But they come next to marlins. A sailfish gets tired more easily than a marlin. A marlin fish will not stop chasing the prey, even after hours of chasing.

If you get one of either trapped, then they have the capacity to free themselves by shaking their bodies violently. They may look similar, but they are very different in their practices and behavior. You should be aware of both of them.

What is faster: marlin or sailfish?

Both of these billfish, marlin, and sailfish, are considered some of the fastest fish in the sea. They can hunt you down and will not leave you until they get you.

A sailfish that is smaller in size and lighter in weight can swim faster than a marlin. A marlin can swim at a speed of 50 mph (80 km/h), but a sailfish has the capacity to swim at up to 68 mph (110 km/h) in seawater.

There is an exception, however. Black marlin can swim up to 80 mph (129 km/h).

If we talk about overall fish species, then a sailfish is faster than a marlin. This may be a reason why they get tired earlier as compared to marlins. A marlin may swim slower than a sailfish, but it can swim for a longer time to hunt its prey.

Sailfish is the fastest fish in the warmer waters of the world. But the fastest fish in the world is the black marlin, and no one can beat it. No other fish can beat these billfishes in the swimming race.

Is marlin a tuna?

A tuna is a fish found in saltwater that belongs to the Scombridae family, while a marlin belongs to the Istiophoridae family. These two fish are not the same. They are considered the same because they are both found in saltwater, and are relatives.

Tunas do not belong to the billfish family because they do not have bills. Both the tuna and marlin have streamlined bodies, which puts both of them on the list of fastest fish in the sea.

A yellowfin tuna is the fastest pelagic fish in the ocean, right after the Indo-Pacific sailfish. At first glance, tuna and marlin differ in a lot of ways, which one can directly tell by their appearances, usually the bills.

Swordfish Vs. Marlin: Both swordfish and marlin are billfish with bills. Both swordfish and marlin belong to the billfish family but are different billfish species. Marlin is a member of the Istiophoridae family, while swordfish belongs to the Xiphiidae family. In fact, the swordfish is the only member of its family.

A swordfish is also known as a broadbill. It has a long, flat bill that looks like a sword. This gives it the name 'swordfish'. Marlin has a sharp bill that looks like a spear.

A marlin is bigger than a swordfish in size. A marlin has vertical stripes on its body, while a swordfish does not. Marlins live longer than swordfish and are obviously faster than them. In a race of swordfish vs. marlin fish, the marlin will definitely win. Marlin has a more tubular body than swordfish.

Did You Know...

Marlins are the fastest marine animal on the planet, excluding a sailfish, of course, which are found in different forms. There are many types of marlin that have differences in their body structures.

Black Marlin: A black marlin is the largest and fastest member of its family. It is found in the Pacific and the Indian Ocean. As the name suggests, they are black to dark blue in color. They have a comparatively smaller bill and lower dorsal fin.

Blue Marlin: This fish is found in the Pacific, Indian, and Atlantic Oceans. They have round and pointed bills. It has a beautiful cobalt blue-colored body and a white belly. They are also known as Atlantic blue marlin.

Striped Marlin: This is the toughest fighter in the marlin family. Their bodies are similar to the blue marlin, but they have vertical blue stripes on them. These are found in the Pacific and Indian oceans.

White Marlin: A white marlin is a smaller fish, in fact, the smallest member of its family. These fishes generally feed on flying fish, squid, and mahi-mahi.

The dorsal fin of these fish is larger than that of other marlins. Their bodies are also like blue marlin, but they have larger white areas on their sides and bellies and also have white spots.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for sailfish vs marlin, then why not take a look at shark symbolism: what does it mean to have a shark as a spirit animal, or what is a pack rat animal?

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The second image is by Jackiemora01.