The Broadbill Swordfish (Xiphias gladius) can grow to 4.45m.
Identification[]
The upper and sides of the body dark brown fading to light brown under side. The only Billfish with a rigid dorsal fin.
Breeding[]
Egg dispersal. Females may lay between 2/5 million eggs and the main breeding area for the Eastern Atlantic is the Mediterranean Sea. It is believed that a female is mature at the age of 5-6 and this equates to a length of between 150-170cm
Habitat[]
A semi oceanic species which is located in the upper water layers and has an optimum temperature range of between 18/22ºC, but is known to tolerate a sea temperature of between 5/27ºC. They are known to go to depths of at least 550m
Food[]
Tunas and other pelagic fishes when in open waters and when further inshore they will take Mackerel, Herring and Hake
Range[]
For the Eastern Atlantic from the north of Scotland down to the Cape of Good Hope.
Additional Notes[]
A truly powerful angling adversary, mostly found in oceanic waters off the western coasts
References[]
The Aquarium Project