Striped Marlin | Takeketonga

If the ocean had a drag race, the striped marlin would be the champion! These torpedo-shaped predators can hit speeds of 80 km/h. They can also change colour - special cells called chromatophores light up their stripes in brilliant blue or lavender when they’re excited or hunting. Despite their massive size (they’re 1.5m after just two years), they have a relatively short life of about 10 years. They spend that decade racing through the open ocean, chasing down mackerel and squid with their iconic pointy bills. They are fast, flashy, and built for speed. Strict commercial fishing regulations mean populations are recovering in New Zealand, but they are struggling elsewhere due to overfishing.