Swordfish
(Xiphias
gladius)
Description:
Color of back variable, black, grayish blue, brown, metallic
purple, or bronze; sides dusky; underbelly dirty white; long,
flat, sword-like upper jaw; lacks scales, teeth, and pelvic
fins; single keel on each side of body in front of tail; first
dorsal fin high, rigid and short; large eyes.
Similar
fish: No close fish resemblance to other billfishes
Where
found: Offshore species worldwide in temperate and tropic
waters; known to frequent depths of 400 to 500 fathoms; also
has been seen basking at the surface.
Size:
Once averaged 200 pounds, but overharvest has reduced
size of commercially caught swordfish to average of 48 inches.
Remarks:
Large swordfish are all females, males seldom exceeding
200 pounds; except when spawning, females believed to prefer
water cooler than that favored by males; feeds on squid, octopus,
and pelagic fishes of all kinds.
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