# Indo-Pacific sailfish (*Istiophorus platypterus*)

Canonical page: https://creaturedata.com/animals/indo-pacific-sailfish  
Data as of: 2026-11-13

The indo-pacific sailfish (Istiophorus platypterus) is a bony fish in the family Istiophoridae, order Carangiformes. Its scientific name carries the authority (Shaw, 1792), and it belongs to the genus Istiophorus within the class Teleostei. Other English names for it include Sailfish, Bayonet-fish, Bayonet fish, Pacific sailfish and Atlantic sailfish. The IUCN Red List global assessment lists it as Vulnerable (VU), a threatened category.

## Quick facts

| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Weight | Not recorded |
| Length | Not recorded |
| Lifespan | Not recorded |
| Main food | Not recorded |
| Habitat | Not recorded |
| Young per litter or clutch | Not recorded |
| Conservation status | Vulnerable (IUCN) |
| Countries on record | Not recorded |

## Classification

- kingdom: Animalia
- phylum: Chordata
- class: Teleostei
- order: Carangiformes
- family: Istiophoridae
- genus: Istiophorus
- species: *Istiophorus platypterus* (Shaw, 1792)

Synonyms: *Histiophorus ancipitirostris*, *Histiophorus dubius*, *Histiophorus gladius*, *Histiophorus gracilirostris*, *Histiophorus immaculatus*, *Histiophorus indicus*, *Histiophorus magnioci*, *Histiophorus orientalis*, *Istiophorus amarui*, *Istiophorus brookei*, *Istiophorus dubius*, *Istiophorus eriquius*, *Istiophorus gladifer*, *Istiophorus gladius*, *Istiophorus gladius greyi*, *Istiophorus gladus*, *Istiophorus greyi*, *Istiophorus greyii*, *Istiophorus immaculatus*, *Istiophorus japonicus*, *Istiophorus ludibundus*, *Istiophorus orientalis*, *Istiophorus triactis*, *Scomber gladius*, *Xiphias platypterus*, *Xiphias velifer*

## Common questions

### What kind of animal is the indo-pacific sailfish?

The indo-pacific sailfish is a bony fish in the family Istiophoridae, order Carangiformes.

### What is the scientific name of the indo-pacific sailfish?

Its scientific name is Istiophorus platypterus, placed in the genus Istiophorus.

### Is the indo-pacific sailfish endangered?

The indo-pacific sailfish is listed as Vulnerable (VU) in the IUCN Red List global assessment, which is a threatened category.

### Who named the indo-pacific sailfish and when?

The scientific name authority is written as (Shaw, 1792).

### What other names does the indo-pacific sailfish have?

Other English names are Sailfish, Bayonet-fish, Bayonet fish, Pacific sailfish and Atlantic sailfish.

## Sources

- [Catalogue of Life eXtended Release](https://www.checklistbank.org/dataset/316691), CC BY 4.0, 2026-10-16 XR. Catalogue of Life (2026). Catalogue of Life eXtended Release, version 2026-10-16 XR. Catalogue of Life Foundation, Amsterdam, Netherlands. https://doi.org/10.48580/dgzlf
- [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org), per file (CC0 / public domain / CC BY green, CC BY-SA amber, anything else not displayed), 2026-11-11. Wikimedia Commons contributors. Wikimedia Commons. https://commons.wikimedia.org (each file credited to its author under its own licence).
- [Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org), CC0 1.0, 2026-11-11. Wikidata contributors. Wikidata. https://www.wikidata.org (data retrieved via the Wikidata Query Service).
- [Wikipedia (English)](https://en.wikipedia.org), CC BY-SA 4.0, 2026-11-11. Wikipedia contributors. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. https://en.wikipedia.org (text under CC BY-SA 4.0; each block names its article and revision).

Cite as: Indo-Pacific sailfish (Istiophorus platypterus). Retrieved from https://creaturedata.com/animals/indo-pacific-sailfish