Atlantic white marlin
Kajikia albida
- Usual depth0–169 m
- Water temperature23–29 °C
- Best monthsMay and October
- How commonOccasional
Photo credit: (c) Remove "cropped" from file name and see original file, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · CC BY-SA · iNaturalist
About this species
The white marlin, also known as Atlantic white marlin, marlin, skilligalee, is a species of billfish that lives in the epipelagic zone of the tropical and subtropical Atlantic Ocean. They are found between the latitudes of 45° N and 45° S in waters deeper than 100 m (330 ft). Even though white marlin are found in bodies of water that are deeper than 100 m they tend to stay near the surface. White marlin have been found near banks, shoals, and canyons, but they are not limited to those locations. They prefer warm surface temperatures greater than 22 °C (72 °F).
Text from the Wikipedia article “White marlin”, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the article
Where and when
Where it has been recorded
Worldwide
Loading the map
Best months
Worldwide (open data)
- January: 0 records
- February: 1 records
- March: 0 records
- April: 0 records
- May: 9 records
- June: 0 records
- July: 1 records
- August: 4 records
- September: 2 records
- October: 9 records
- November: 5 records
- December: 1 records
Depth and water temperature
Depth
Mostly recorded at 0–169 m · Deepest record: 169 m
Water temperature
Recorded in surface water of 23–29 °C
Photos
(c) rjtizard, some rights reserved (CC BY) · CC BY · iNaturalist
Names and classification
- English
- Atlantic white marlin, Atlantic white marlin, White Marlin, Marlin, Skilligalee, White marlin
Names in 5 more languages
- German
- weißer Marlin, Weißer Marlin (Atlantik)
- Spanish
- Aguja Blanca, Aguja Blanca del Atlántico, Aguja de Costa, Aguja de Paladar, Alfiler, Alton, Blanca, Cabezona, Cometa, marlin blanco, Pez Aguja
- French
- Espadon, Makaire blanc, makaire blanc de l'Atlantique, Makaire blanc de l'Atlantique
- Japanese
- ニシマカジキ
- Korean
- 백새치
Other scientific names: Lamontella albida, Makaira albida, Makaira lessonae, Tetrapterus albidus, Tetrapturus albidus, Tetrapturus lessonae
Similar species
Striped marlinKajikia audax
Black marlinIstiompax indica
Indo-Pacific sailfishIstiophorus platypterus
- Atlantic sailfish
Istiophorus albicans
Sources and credits
Names and taxonomy: WoRMS (CC BY 4.0) and the GBIF Backbone (CC BY 4.0). Photos: iNaturalist observers, each under the licence shown (CC0, CC BY or CC BY-SA).
- Depth, temperature, months and maps: records from OBIS and GBIF under CC0 or CC BY.
- Descriptions: Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA, each linked to its article.
- Conservation status as published by GBIF (IUCN Red List).
- 769 open-data records from 1961 to 2018.
- Species data updated November 3, 2026.
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