Can you believe it is December 1st already? You know that this means Christmas is just around the corner, right? For a lot of people, Christmas is associated with snow and cold so I thought we would put those nasty winter thoughts out of our head by studying the warm water Sailfish. Yes, these beautiful creatures are typical found in the warmer oceans throughout the world. Although we may get to hang out in the warmer parts of the world, you better not just relax on the beach if you plan on catching a glimpse of the Sailfish. Unfortunately this fish is usually found quite far from land where they are able to feed on their favourite food.
The Fastest Fish
Even if you make it further out in the ocean, you had better be on the lookout since the Sailfish is known to be the fastest fish in the ocean. They have actually been clocked jumping out of the water at an astounding 110 km/hr (66 mph). I don’t know about your country but this would be considered speeding on pretty much every highway in Canada. If you do get to see one of these speedy Sailfish, you shouldn’t have a tough time distinguishing them from other fish in the ocean. As you can see from the photo, the Sailfish has an incredible dorsal fin that is pretty much the length of their body. I wonder how they received their name “Sailfish”? :).
A Useful Sail
Their sail is more than just a fashion statement. It actually plays a pretty important role in their feeding strategy. The Sailfish loves feeding on schools of sardines and anchovies, which they corral together using their large sail. They are basically like a shepherd herding their sheep…..only the Sailfish shepherd eats their “sheep” right away. You have to feel sorry for the poor sardines and anchovies since they don’t stand a chance against a fish that has a large sail and travels at speeds greater than 100 km/hr. Although, it isn’t only small fish that need to be on the lookout since the Sailfish will also feast on squid and octopus.
That does it for today’s warm water fish Wild Fact. Enjoy the rest of your day and we will meet up tomorrow for the last fact of the week.
