Species learning profile

Espadon

Xiphias gladius

Swordfish (Xiphias gladius) is a saltwater fish associated with open ocean habitat in Global. Its long bill can slash through schools of prey.

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Illustration originale de la collection Fishdle de Espadon
Source de l’illustration: Fishdle · CC BY 4.0

At a glance

Eau
Eau salée
Habitat
Haute mer
Longueur maximale
455 cm
Répartition
Monde entier
Famille
Xiphiidae
Ordre
Istiophoriformes

Observe

How to identify Espadon

  • Dark blue-grey above and pale below.
  • Long, sleek body with a very long pointed bill.
  • Reported maximum length: 455 cm — a genuinely giant fish. Maximum is not the same as typical adult size.

Field note: color, size, and markings can change with age, sex, season, depth, and lighting. Use several traits together.

Place and pattern

Where it lives—and how it behaves

Habitat and range

This species is associated with open ocean habitat across Global. With little fixed shelter, currents, temperature fronts, depth, and moving prey define its open-ocean world.

Behavior

Uses open ocean habitat for feeding, shelter, migration, or reproduction.

Food-web connections

What it eats and why it matters

Diet

A species-specific mix of plant material, plankton, invertebrates, or other fish.

Ecological role

It helps move energy across great distances in a food web with few physical boundaries..

Remember

One fact worth keeping

Espadon peut atteindre environ 455 cm et vit souvent près de Haute mer.

Think like a conservationist

A conservation lens

Wide-ranging ocean fish can cross many jurisdictions, so bycatch, harvest limits, and international cooperation matter.

This habitat lens is not a current population-status assessment. Status can differ among regions and change as new assessments are published; follow the reference links and local fisheries or wildlife agencies for current decisions.

Recall

Quick knowledge check

Which habitat is most closely associated with Swordfish in this guide?

Keep exploring

References and further reading

Fishdle summarizes stable identification and ecology concepts in plain language. Taxonomy and population knowledge continue to change, so use primary assessments and regional authorities for conservation or management decisions.

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