Swordfish

Swordfish (Xiphias gladius), also known as broadbills in some countries,

are large, highly migratory, predatory fish characterized by a long, flat
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). They commonly reach 3
m (9.8 ft) in length, and the maximum reported is 4.55 m (14.9 ft) in
length and 650 kg (1,430 lb) in weight. They are the sole member of their
family, Xiphiidae.
Taxonomy and etymology
The swordfish is named after its bill resembling a sword (respectively
from Greek "swordfish", itself from xiphos, and
Latingladius, both meaning "sword"). This makes it superficially similar
to other billfish such as marlin, but upon examination, their physiology
is quite different and they are members of different families.
Description
They commonly reach 3 m (9.8 ft) in length, and the maximum reported
is 4.55 m (14.9 ft) in length and 650 kg (1,430 lb) in weight. The
International Game Fish Association's all-tackle angling record for a
swordfish was a 1,182 lb (536 kg) specimen taken off Chile in 1953.
Females are larger than males, and Pacific swordfish reach a greater size
than northwest Atlantic and Mediterranean swordfish.[4] They reach
maturity at 45 years of age and the maximum age is believed to be at
least 9 years. The oldest swordfish found in a recent study were a 16year-old female and 12-year-old male. Swordfish ages are derived, with
difficulty, from annual rings on fin rays rather than otoliths, since their
otoliths are small in size.
Swordfish are ectothermic animals; however, along with some species of
sharks, they have special organs next to their eyes to heat their eyes and
brains. Temperatures of 10 to 15 C above the surrounding water
temperature have been measured. The heating of the eyes greatly

improves their vision, and consequently improves their ability to catch

prey. Of the 25,000+ fish species, only 22 are known to have a
mechanism to conserve heat. These include the swordfish, marlin, tuna,
and some sharks.