It is very difficult to measure how fast a particular fish can swim, we can only rely on rough estimates. Such a tail shape allows the fish control at high speeds, as well as allowing them to reach said speeds. They are blue to grey in color and have a characteristic erectile dorsal fin known as a sail, which often stretches the entire length of the back. How to Live In Peace with Your Cat and Small Pets? Some recommended products may use affiliate links. Relevance. a sailfish can swim as fast as 68 miles per hour. The exact function of the huge dorsal fin, or the "sail" remains to be discovered. That would be faster than a sprinting cheetah, although this speed would include its leaps out of water which shouldn't really count as swimming speed. Answer Save. In addition to the sailfish, there are many other fast-swimming fish in the ocean, with many of them being in the same family, or genus, as the sailfish. Rest of the top ten fastest swimming species are given here. Is it their tail, fin, scales... What is the main cause of their speed? Due to its fast swimming and amazing jumping heights, the sailfish is a prized sporting fish but due to their low number, most request that you now do a catch and release after you have your picture taken with it. Learn more about one of the fastest fishes in the ocean here.eval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'catchandfillet_com-box-4','ezslot_6',130,'0','0'])); Although this is the second-fastest swimming fish that can swim 60 mph to 110 mph, there is still a lot that scientist do not know about this fish so scientist is studying this fish to see if they can figure out the reason why the tail fin, why is it so fast, and how did it get to be so fast? Fact pages and pictures of curious creatures, Animals / Fishes - All Types of Fish Species / Sailfish - The Fastest Swimming Animal. Best Saltwater Spinning Reels for Under $100. Scientists believe they are the same species with the only difference being their size and the ocean they live in. Favourite answer. Absolutely. Answer Save. Ash. per hour. Marlin can swim with a speed of 80 Km per hour. Once you understand lift and how the wing of an airplane works, just turn the concept of a wing 90 degrees and you'll understand how a swimmer's hand works. There have been divers that have seen several sailfish working together to corral their prey. They can reach between 4 and 5 feet long (1.2 to 1.5 m) in one year. During predator–prey interactions, sailfish reached burst speeds of 7 m/s (25 km/h… 8 years ago. Marlin is the second fastest fish in the world. Off the water, he enjoys blogging and sharing his favorite fishing tips & tricks that he has learned over the years. His favorite fish to catch is a striped bass and his favorite bait to use is bunker. Close behind the sailfish in the top speed racers of fish are other open-water hunters. On average, the sailfish can grow to six to eight feet but some can get as large as ten feet. One main factor that made sailfish the fastest is its caudal fin. It also has a strong backbone and a sturdy crescent-shaped tail to complete the sprinting swimmer's body. They used their high fins as a wall to keep the smaller fish from getting away and to scare them into forming denser, smaller groups. Red muscle needs more oxygen but they are good for sustaining its fast swimming. The top ten fastest swimming fish, including the sailfish, have average speeds ranging from 64 mph to 129 mph, which is pretty fast swimming. Like the nose of a jet its rapier-like bill has been shown to cause what's called low resistance flow, or in other words, good fluid or hydro-dynamics. It has been recorded as reeling out 300 ft (91 m) of a fisherman's line in three seconds. Some of the more likely uses are that it may assist its fast turning maneuvers, increase the fish's profile when it's rounding up prey, act as an actual sail when the fish is at the surface and/or help warm the blood when it is exposed to the sun. If it were traveling at 60 mph, that would take it exactly 1 mile in a minute. How does a Sailfish swim so fast? We receive commissions for purchases made through links in this post. How fast can a killer whale swim mph? Over time, the list will probably change but for now, the sailfish holds the second spot on the fastest fish swimming list.eval(ez_write_tag([[250,250],'catchandfillet_com-large-leaderboard-2','ezslot_7',120,'0','0'])); As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. The caudal fin or the tail fin is the fin that is connected to their vertebral column and is the primary means of fish movement. 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