fish with a unique beak

Swordfish have a conspicuous long, flattened bill that stands out from their cylindrical body. It is large, it can measure from 3 to 4.5 m long and weigh about 650 kg. Being the female longer than the male and the one that lives the longest.

It is a very fast hunter that uses its convenient beak to stun its prey and then pierce through it. It is found in oceans around the world, preferring tropical, subtropical, and temperate climates.

Fun facts

• Swordfish are homeothermic, which means that they maintain their body temperature within limits regardless of the temperature of the environment. That is why their body is always 10 to 15 °C warmer than the temperature of the water in which they swim.
• Their elevated temperature in the eyes considerably improves the vision of these fish, so their chances of catching prey are higher.
• The adult swordfish does not have scales, only those that measure less than 1 m have small spines on the body.
• They feed on various types of fish, such as flying fish, tuna, barracuda, mackerel, etc. They can eat squid if they are available.
• They prefer to stay in deep water during the day, and at night they go up to the most superficial areas.
• It is generally solitary, does not usually hang out in groups of fish and stays at a distance of about 10 meters from other swordfish.
• It is common for them to make impressive jumps on the surface of the sea, in a demonstration of their strength, speed and agility.