What is a swordfish?
A: Swordfish are large, highly migratory predatory fish characterized by a
long, flat, pointed bill.
Swordfish are elongated, round-bodied, and lose what by
adulthood?
A: All teeth and scales
Where are swordfish found?
A: In tropical and temperate parts of the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian
Oceans.
At what depth can they be found?
A: From near the surface to a depth of 1,800 ft.
They commonly reach what length?
A: 10 ft.
The swordfish is named after what?
A: Its long pointed, flat bill, which resembles a sword.
The International Game Fish Association's all-tackle
angling record for a swordfish was what?
A: A 1,182 lb. specimen taken off Chile in 1953.
Females are larger than males, and Pacific swordfish
reach a greater size than what?
A: Northwest Atlantic and
Mediterranean swordfish.
When do they reach maturity?
A: At 4–5 years of age and the maximum age is believed to be at least 9
years.
Swordfish are ectothermic
animals; however, along with
some species of sharks, they have special organs next to their eyes to do
what?
A: To heat their eyes and brains.
The heating of the eyes greatly improves what?
A: Their vision, and consequently improves their ability to catch prey.
Mainly, the swordfish relies on its great speed and
agility in the water to do what?
A: To catch its prey.
They swim alone or in very loose aggregations,
separated by how far from a neighboring swordfish?
A: By as much as 35 ft.
They are frequently found doing what?
A: Basking at the surface, airing their first dorsal fin.
Boaters report this to be what?
A: A beautiful sight, as is the powerful jumping for which the species is
known.
This jumping, also called breaching, may be an effort
to do what?
A: To dislodge pests, such as remoras or lampreys.
When do swordfish typically move towards colder regions
to feed?
A: During the summer.
Swordfish feed daily, most often when?
A: At night, when they rise to surface and near-surface waters in search of
smaller fish.
Large prey are typically slashed with the sword, while
small are what?
A: Swallowed whole.
How many species of parasites have been documented in
swordfish?
A: Almost 50.
Fully adult swordfish have few what?
A: Natural predators.
What was the annual reported catch in 2019 of the North
Atlantic swordfish?
A: 2.9 million pounds.
In the North Pacific, batch spawning mainly occurs in
water warmer than what?
A: 75 °F during the spring and summer, and year-round in the equatorial
Pacific.
Swordfish were harvested by a variety of methods at
small scale (notably harpoon fishing) until what?
A: The global expansion of long-line fishing.
Although no unprovoked attacks on humans have been
reported, swordfish can be what?
A: Very dangerous when harpooned.
When hurt they have been known to run their swords
through what?
A: The planking of small boats.
In 2015, a Hawaiian fisherman was killed by a
swordfish after attempting to what?
A: Spear the animal.