Species: Xiphias gladius, Swordfish
D2 & A2 tiny
Xiphias gladius Linnaeus, 1758
Swordfish
An elongate, rounded body, tapering to rear; head large, with a very long, flattened bill; no teeth on jaws in adult; 1st dorsal fin short based, high, curved, 34-49, well separated from 2nd dorsal, (4-6),which is small, at rear of body; 1st anal fin 13-14, short based, fin long and curved, between the 2 dorsals, 2nd anal tiny, 3-4, under 2nd dorsal; pectoral fins low on the sides, 16-18; no pelvic fins; tail base with a large keel on each side and a deep notch above and below just before tail fin; tail fin large, strongly concave; no scales or lateral line in adult.
Blackish brown on back fading to light brown or silvery on sides; first dorsal fin dark blackish brown; other fins brown or blackish brown.
Maximum size 445 cm; all-tackle world rcord 537 kg.
Habitat: pelagic, oceanic.
Depth: 0-2878 m.
Circumglobal in tropical, temperate, and adjacent cold seas; Canada to Argentina.
High Resolution Map Download
- Salinity
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- Marine
- Marine Only
- Inshore/Offshore
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- Offshore
- Offshore Only
- Water Column Position
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- Mid Water
- Near Surface
- Surface
- Water column only
- Habitat
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- Water column
- FishBase Habitat
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- Pelagic
- Feeding Group
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- Carnivore
- Data
- Diet
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- Data
- Bony fishes
- Octopus/squid/cuttlefish
- Pelagic crustacea
- Egg Type
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- Data
- Pelagic
- Pelagic larva
- Global Endemism
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- All species
- Circumtropical ( Indian + Pacific + Atlantic Oceans)
- Greater Caribbean non-endemic
- Regional Endemism
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- Also in Brazil
- Continent
- Continent + Island (s)
- Extends N + S of GC
- Extends North of GC
- Extends South of GC
- GC non-endemic
- Island (s)
- All species
- Residency
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- Resident
- Climate Zone
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- Equatorial (0-10N, Costa Rica / Venezuela)
- Subtropical (23-35N, Florida / Carolinas / Bermuda)
- Temperate (>35N)
- Tropical (10-23N, Nicaragua / Cuba)
- IUCN Red List
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- Least concern
- Listed
- CITES
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- Not listed
- Length Max
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- 445
- Depth Range Min
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- 0
- Depth Range Max
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- 2878
