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Xiphias gladius

(Broad-Bill Sword-Fish, Broadbill, Broadbill Swordfish, Sword Fish, Swordfish)

Overview:

Family: Swordfish; Oceanic but sometimes found in coastal waters (Ref. 9354). Generally above the thermocline (Ref. 9354), prefering temperatures of 18¦C to 22¦C (Ref. 9987). Larvae are frequently encountered at temperatures above 24 ¦C (Ref. 9702). 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 (Ref. 9702). Use their sword to kill their prey (Ref. 9354). Feed mainly on fishes but also on crustaceans and squids (Ref. 9354). Good food fish, marketed fresh or frozen, and can be made into sashimi, teriyaki or fillets (Ref. 9354). Large individuals may accumulate large percentages of mercury in its flesh (Ref. 9354). Spawning takes place in Atlantic during spring in southern Sargasso Sea. Females grow fastest. Determination of age is difficult since the otoliths are very small and scales are missing in adults. Year rings have been successfully counted on cross sections of the fin rays (Ref. 35388). Pelagic eggs measure 1.6-1.8mm and the newly hatched larvae is 4 mm long. Sword is well developed at a length of 10mm and young live pelagically in the upper water layers where they quickly develop into very voracious predators (Ref. 35388). 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 (Ref. 12784).

Conservation Status

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Status

Most of the swordfish taken by the U.S. fishing industry are juveniles. Recently, the US government took measures to protect juvenile north Atlantic swordfish stocks by closing swordfish nursery areas to fishing. Coupled with an international swordfish recovery plan (1999), swordfish populations are on the road to recovery

Taxonomy

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  • Domain: Eukaryota Whittaker & Margulis,1978 - eukaryotes
    • Kingdom: Animalia Linnaeus, 1758 - Linnaeus, 1758 - animals
      • Subkingdom: Bilateria (Hatschek, 1888) Cavalier-Smith, 1983 - (Hatschek, 1888) Cavalier-Smith, 1983 - bilaterians
        • Branch: Deuterostomia Grobben, 1908 - Deuterostomes
          • Infrakingdom: Chordonia (Haeckel, 1874) Cavalier-Smith, 1998
            • Phylum: Chordata Bateson, 1885 - Chordates
              • Subphylum: Vertebrata Cuvier, 1812 - Vertebrates
                • Infraphylum: Gnathostomata auct. - Jawed Vertebrates
                  • Superclass: Osteichthyes Huxley, 1880 - Bony Fishes
                    • Class: Actinopterygii Cope 1887 - Ray-Finned Fishes
                      • Order: Perciformes - Perch-like Fishes
                        • Suborder: Scombroidei - Albacores, Billfishes
                          • Family: Xiphiidae - Swordfishes
                            • Genus: Xiphias Linnaeus, 1758 - Swordfishes
                              • Specific name: gladius Linnaeus, 1758
                                • Scientific name: Xiphias gladius Linnaeus, 1758

Unambiguous Synonyms:

  1. Phaethonichthys tuberculatus Nichols, 1923
  2. Tetrapterus imperator (Bloch & Schneider, 1801)
  3. Xiphasia gladius (Linnaeus, 1758)
  4. Xiphias estara Phillipps, 1932
  5. Xiphias gladius subsp. estara Phillipps, 1932
  6. Xiphias imperator Bloch & Schneider, 1801
  7. Xiphias rondeletti Leach, 1818
  8. Xiphias thermaicus Serbetis, 1951

Notes:

Name Status: Accepted Name. Latest taxonomic scrutiny: Data last modified by FishBase 09-Jan-1998

Physical Description

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Family Xiphiidae:

Distribution: tropical and subtropical waters. Premaxilla and nasal bones extremely elongated, forming a pointed, depressed, sharp-edged sword. Gill membranes not united to isthmus. Adults scaleless. No pelvic fins and girdle. Adults lacking jaw teeth. One median keel on each side of the caudal peduncle in adults. Vertebrae 26. Maximum length 4.5 m. The morphological adaptations required for maintaining high brain and retinal temperatures are discussed in Brock et al. 1993 Science 260:210-214. Of high commercial value.

The family Xiphiidae belongs to the Class Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes) and the Order Perciformes. It contains 1 genus and 1 species. It may be found in Marine environments and is primarily Marine. Members of this family are not used in the aquarium trade. Reproductively, most members of this family are nonguarders. The main mode of swimming of adult fish in this family is thunniform. Compared with other fish, the activity level of this family tends to be very active. Members of this family have been dated back to the Paleocene epoch of the Tertiary period. Etymology of this family name: Greek, xiphos = sword. 1667

Species Xiphias gladius:

Distinctive Features: The swordfish, as the only member of the family Xiphiidae, can be distinguished from other billfishes (Family Istiophoridae) by the shape of its prolonged "bill", which appears as a flattened oval in cross section. The bill is long relative to other billfishes and adults lack teeth in the jaws. While the young have scales, these are lost by the time the fish attain a body length of about 3 feet (1 m). Adults lack scales and teeth. The body is generally cylindrical. Two dorsal fins are present, although the second is quite small, separated from the first, and set far back on the body. The first dorsal fin is high and rigid. Likewise, there are two anal fins, although again the second is considerably smaller than the first. Pelvic fins are absent. The caudal fin is lunate, while the caudal peduncle has a pronounced keel on either side. The lateral line is also present in specimens up to 3 feet (1 m) in body length, but it too is lacking in adulthood. Prior to adulthood, swordfish morphology changes greatly

Color:

The color is blackish-brown above, fading to a lighter shade below. The fins are brown or dark brown.

Size/Age/Growth:

Swordfish reach a maximum size of 177 in. (455 cm) total length and a maximum weight of 1,400 lbs. (650 kg), although the individuals commercially taken are usually 47 to 75 in. (120-190 cm) long in the Pacific. Females are larger than males of the same age, and nearly all specimens over 300 lbs. (140 kg) are female. Pacific swordfish grow to be the largest, while western Atlantic adults grow to 700 lbs. (320 kg) and Mediterranean adults are rarely over 500 lbs. (230 kg). The IGFA all tackle record is 1182 lb. (536.15 kg). Swordfish reach sexual maturity at 5-6 years of age, with a maximum lifespan of at least 9 years.

Images:

Distribution

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Aquatic Regions

Atlantic-eastern centralAtlantic-northeastAtlantic-northwestAtlantic-western centralMediterranean and Black SeaPacific-eastern centralPacific-northwestPacific-southeastPacific-southwestPacific-western central

Range and Population

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[1]. 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[2].

Habitat

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Generally an oceanic species, the swordfish is primarily a midwater fish at depths of 650-1970 feet (200-600 m) and water temperatures of 64 to 71°F (18-22°C). Although mainly a warm-water species, the swordfish has the widest temperature tolerance of any billfish, and can be found in waters from 41-80°F (5-27°C). The swordfish is commonly observed in surface waters, although it is believed to swim to depths of 2,100 feet (650 m) or greater, where the water temperature may be just above freezing. One adaptation which allows for swimming in such cold water is the presence of a "brain heater," a large bundle of tissue associated with one of the eye muscles, which insulates and warms the brain. Blood is supplied to the tissue through a specialized vascular heat exchanger, similar to the counter current exchange found in some tunas. This helps prevent rapid cooling and damage to the brain as a result of extreme vertical movements.

Biome

Saltwater. Pelagic.

Diet

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As opportunistic predators, swordfish feed at the surface as well as the bottom of their depth range (>2,100 ft (650 m)) as evidenced by stomach contents. They feed mostly upon pelagic fishes, and occasionally squids and other cephalopods. At lower depths they feed upon demersal fishes. The sword is apparently used in obtaining prey, as squid and cuttlefishes commonly exhibit slashes to the body when taken from swordfish stomachs. A recent study found the majority of large fish prey had been slashed, while small prey items had been consumed whole. Larval swordfish feed on zooplankton including other fish larvae. Juveniles eat squid, fishes, and pelagic crustaceans.

Reproduction

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Swordfish have been observed spawning in the Atlantic Ocean, in water less than 250 ft. (75 m) deep. Estimates vary considerably, but females may carry from 1 million to 29 million eggs in their gonads. Solitary males and females appear to pair up during the spawning season. Spawning occurs year-round in the Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico, the Florida coast and other warm equatorial waters, while it occurs in the spring and summer in cooler regions. The most recognized spawning site is in the Mediterranean, off the coast of Italy. The height of this well-known spawning season is in July and August, when males are often observed chasing females. The pelagic eggs are buoyant, measuring 1.6-1.8mm in diameter. Embryonic development occurs during the 2 ½ days following fertilization. As the only member of its family, the swordfish has unique-looking larvae. The pelagic larvae are 4 mm long at hatching and live near the surface. At this stage, body is only lightly pigmented. The snout is relatively short and the body has many distinct, prickly scales. With growth, the body narrows. By the time the larvae reach half an inch long (12 mm), the bill is notably elongate, but both the upper and lower portions are equal in length. The dorsal fin runs the length of the body. As growth continues, the upper portion of the bill grows proportionately faster than the lower bill, eventually producing the characteristic prolonged upper bill. Specimens up to approximately 9 inches (23 cm) in length have a dorsal fin that extends the entire length of the body. With further growth, the fin develops a single large lobe, followed by a short portion that still reaches to the caudal peduncle. By approximately 20 inches (52 cm), the second dorsal fin has developed, and at approximately 60 inches (150 cm), only the large lobe remains of the first dorsal fin.

Behavior

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Predators:

Predators of adult swordfish include marine mammals such as killer whales. Young adults and juveniles are eaten by a variety of sharks and other large predatory fish including blue marlin (Makaira nigricans), black marlin (Makaira indica), sailfish (Istiophorus platypterus), yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares), and the dolphin fish (Coryphaena hippurus).

Parasites:

Swordfish are hosts to 49 species of parasites including cestodes (tapeworms) in the stomach and intestines, nematodes (roundworms) in the stomach, tremodes (flukes) on the gills, and copepods attached to the surface of the body. One such copepod is the Pennella filosa, a parasite that inserts itself into the flesh of the swordfish. Sea lampreys are also ectoparasites on swordfish. They leave behind longitudinal scratch marks indicating that swordfish are skilled at ridding themselves of the lamprey. Other parasites include digenea (flukes), didymozoidea (tissue flukes), monogenea (gillworms), cestoda (tapeworms), nematoda (roundworms), acanthocephala (spiny-headed worms), copepods, barnacles, and isopods. Ectoparasitic fish include the cookiecutter shark (Isistius brasiliensis), pilotfish (Naucrates ductor), sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus), spearfish remora Remora brachyptera, and marlin sucker Remora osteochir.

Similar Species

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Members of the genus Xiphias:

There are approximately 4 species and subspecies in this genus: X. gladias · X. gladius (Broad-Bill Sword-Fish) · X. gladius estara · X. gladus

Bibliography

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More Info

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Notes

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Contributors:

Data Sources:

Accessed through GBIF Data Portal November 18, 2007:

Identifiers:

Footnotes:

  1. FAO Fisheries Department (1994). World review of highly migratory species and straddling stocks. FAO Fish. Tech. Pap. No. 337. Rome, FAO. 70 p.
  2. Kotoulas, G., A. Magoulas, N. Tsimenides and E. Zouros. (1995). Marked mitochondrial DNA differences between Mediterranean and Atlantic populations of the swordfish, Xiphias gladius. Mol. Ecol. 4:473-481.

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Last Revised: May 15, 2008