Swordfish

This article is about the species of fish. For other uses, see Swordfish (disambiguation).

Swordfish
Temporal range: 38–0 Ma Eocene to Present[1][2]
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Carangiformes
Suborder: Menoidei
Family: Xiphiidae
Swainson, 1839
Genus: Xiphias
Linnaeus, 1758
Species:
X. gladius
Binomial name
Xiphias gladius
Global distribution of swordfish in blue
Synonyms[4]
  • Xiphias imperator Bloch & Schneider, 1801
  • Tetrapterus imperator (Bloch & Schneider, 1801)
  • Xiphias rondeletii Leach, 1814
  • Phaethonichthys tuberculatus Nichols, 1923
  • Xiphias estara Phillipps, 1932
  • Xiphias thermaicus Serbetis, 1951

The swordfish (Xiphias gladius), also known as the broadbill[5] in some countries, are large, highly migratory predatory fish characterized by a long, flat, pointed bill. They are a popular sport fish of the billfish category, though elusive. Swordfish are elongated, round-bodied, and lose all teeth and scales by adulthood. These fish are found widely in tropical and temperate parts of the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans, and can typically be found from near the surface to a depth of 550 m (1,800 ft), and exceptionally up to depths of 2,234 m.[3] They commonly reach 3 m (10 ft) in length, and the maximum reported is 4.55 m (14 ft 11 in) in length and 650 kg (1,430 lb) in weight.[4][6]

They are the sole member of their family, Xiphiidae.[7]

  1. ^ "Monata (Eocene of Kazakhstan)". PBDB.org.
  2. ^ Fierstine, Harry L. (1990). "A paleontological review of three billfish families (Istiophoridae, Xiphiidae, and Xiphiorhynchidae)" (PDF). Biological Sciences: 11.
  3. ^ a b Collette, B.B; Di Natale, A.; Fox, W.; Graves, J.; Juan Jorda, M.; Pohlot, B.; Restrepo, V.; Schratwieser, J. (2022). "Xiphias gladius". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2022. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2022-1.RLTS.T23148A46625751.en. Retrieved 14 October 2022.
  4. ^ a b Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Xiphias gladius". FishBase. February 2018 version.
  5. ^ Grey, Zane (2000). Tales of Swordfish and Tuna. Lanham, Maryland and New York, New York, USA: The Derrydale Press. p. 107. ISBN 9781493048809.
  6. ^ Gardieff, S. "Swordfish". Florida Museum of Natural History. Archived from the original on 9 August 2015. Retrieved 26 December 2011.
  7. ^ Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Family Xiphiidae". FishBase. December 2011 version.