Scientific Name
Xiphias gladius

Common Name
Swordfish

Biology
Oceanic but sometimes found in coastal waters. Generally above the thermocline , preferring temperatures of 18°C to 22°C. Larvae are frequently encountered at temperatures above 24°C. Migrate toward temperate or cold waters in the summer and back to warm waters in the fall. Adults are opportunistic feeders, known to forage for their food from the surface to the bottom over a wide depth range. Feed mainly on fishes but also on crustaceans and squids. They use their sword to kill their prey. Large individuals may accumulate large percentages of mercury in its flesh. Are batch spawners. Spawning takes place in Atlantic during spring in southern Sargasso Se

Classification

Classified By

Linnaeus, 1758

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Perch-like fish (Perciformes)

Family

Swordfish (Xiphiidae)

Distribution

Region

Atlantic, Indian and Pacific

Distribution

Atlantic, Indian and Pacific: tropical and temperate and sometimes cold waters, including the Mediterranean Sea, the Sea of Marmara, the Black Sea, and the Sea of Azov. Highly migratory species, Annex I of the 1982 Convention on the Law of the Sea. Mt DNA restriction analysis reveal that genetic differentiation occurs between populations inhabiting the Mediterranean Sea and the tropical Atlantic ocean, indicating little genetic exchange occurring between the two.

Range

61°N - 50°S, 180°W - 180°E

Environment

Climate

Temperate

Water Temperature From

5 °C

Water Temperature To

27 °C

Depth From - meters

0 m

Depth To - meters

800 m

Zone

pelagic-oceanic

Environment

Marine; pelagic-oceanic; oceanodromous ; depth range 0 - 800 m , usually 0 - 550 m

Trophic Level

4.49 s.e. 0.57 Based on diet studies.

Occurs in Marine / Salt water

True

Occurs in Brackish water

False

Occurs in Fresh Water

False

Occurs on Reefs

False

Is kept in Aquariums

False

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length

455 cm

Common Length

300 cm

Phylogenetic Diversity Index

PD50 = 1.5000 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses

Fisheries: commercial; gamefish: yes

Vulnerability

High to very high vulnerability (72 of 100)

Resilience

Low, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (rm=0.076; K=0.23; tm=5-6; tmax=9)

Threat To Humans

Unknown

IUCN Red List Status

Data deficient (DD)