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Xiphias gladius

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Xiphias gladius

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Espadon Xiphias Gladius en surface

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Facts: The Swordfish

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Swordfish (Xiphias gladius) spotted off the Southern California coast.

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Xiphias Gladius

Swordfish, 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.
  • Taxonomy and etymology 

  • Description 

  • Behavior and ecology 

  • Fisheries 

  • Recreational fishing 

  • As food 

  • Conservation status 

  • In culture