Swordfish

The swordfish is a large, highly migratory predatory fish known for its long, flat bill and streamlined body.

The swordfish is a large, highly migratory predatory fish known for its long, flat bill and streamlined body. Its scientific name is *Xiphias gladius*, and it is the sole member of the family Xiphiidae. Swordfish occur in warm and temperate oceans worldwide and are also found seasonally in Canadian Atlantic waters.

Description

Swordfish are large, streamlined fish with a long, flat bill, a stout body, and a tall dorsal fin. They are typically dark bluish or olive-brown above and lighter below, and adults lack scales and teeth.

Distribution and habitat

The species lives in open-ocean waters across the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans, and in the Mediterranean Sea. It is highly migratory and moves long distances with seasonal changes.

Feeding and behaviour

Swordfish are predatory and feed on fish and squid. They use their bill to slash at prey and are known for speed and for adaptations that help them hunt in deeper, colder waters.

Relationship with humans

Swordfish are important to commercial and recreational fisheries. They are valued as a food fish and game fish, and their migrations bring them into Canadian waters during part of the year.