Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Actinopterygii
Order
Perciformes
Family
Xiphiidae
Genus
Xiphias
Species
Xiphias gladius
Status
least concern
Distinguishing features
They have a long bill that they use to slash at and confuse/injure their prey. They are elongated, round-bodied, and lose all teeth and scales by adulthood. (Wikipedia)
Size
- Up to 455 cm (Total Length)
Depth range
- From 0 m to 500 m
Synonyms
Distribution
©Atlas of Living Australia: Australian distribution
Distribution and habitat preferences
These fish are found widely in tropical and temperate parts of the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans. (Wikipedia)
Diet
Adults feed on a wide range of pelagic fish, such as mackerel, barracudinas, silver hake, rockfish, herring, and lanternfishes, but they also take demersal fish, squid, and crustaceans. (Wikipedia)
