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Atlantic sailfish (Istiophorus albicans) are              bones in the fish’s upper jaw. Somewhat rounded,
               impressive in so many ways. For starters, they’re            with a pointed tip, the bill is covered with
               big, growing up to 10 feet (3 m) long. They’re also          toothlike bumps.
               fast. Sailfish can tear through the water at speeds             For many years, people weren’t quite sure how
               of 22 to 34 miles (36 to 54 km) per hour. And a              sailfish used their bills. One long-held idea was
               sailfish’s spectacular “sail”—its large dorsal (top)         that they use them to stab their prey, like you
               fin—runs almost the length of its body.                      might stab a piece of steak with a knife. But it turns
                  But the sailfish’s bill usually draws the most            out that sailfish use their bills like ninja sword
               attention. It is formed from extremely elongated             masters, with blinding speed and deadly accuracy.







































                                                                        A sailfish is poised to insert its
                                                                        swordlike bill into a tightly packed
                                                                        school of exhausted sardines.


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