The Speedy Swordfish!
Charmitha Yelampalli
Introduction
Zooming through the water at 50 mph, and CHOMP! Mighty, toothless jaws close around a tiny fish. What is this creature that lurks in the dark waters of the world’s oceans? The habitat, diet, and body structure are all important parts of a swordfish’s lifestyle. These large undersea animals, also known as Xiphias Gladius, are apex predators that will eat almost anything in their path.
Where in the World...?
These large undersea predators have a very wide habitat range. They live in many of the world’s oceans, including the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian oceans. In addition, they seem to prefer warmer waters, but they can live in a wide range of temperatures. Normally, these magnificent creatures live in water that is about 650 ft to 1,970 ft deep, though sometimes they swim up to 2,100 ft deep. Statistics show that the temperatures that swordfish can tolerate are about 41°F(5°C) to 80°F(27°C). Also, they generally migrate to warmer waters in the winter and cooler water in the summer.
CHOMP! -swallow- YUM!
These large marine animals prey on many types of fish. They eat squid, octopus, bluefish, mackerel, hake, and herring. Furthermore, very young swordfish feed on zooplankton and other types of fish plankton. They feed mainly at the surface all the way down to about 2,000 ft. These sleek beasts also tend to do most of their hunting at night. Swordfish may eat smaller fish whole, but they capture larger animals by slashing at them with their sword. This stuns or wounds the prey, and the large undersea creature can eat it. They also rely on their speed to catch smaller, faster fish.
How Big is it?
Swordfish are very large fish. They can reach 4-16 ft in length and weigh 50-1,200 pounds. Females are typically larger than males. These marine predators are usually a blue-gray color, and the belly of the swordfish is usually white or cream-colored. The lengthy night hunter has a large caudal, otherwise known as tail, fin that is roughly shaped like a crescent moon. The feature that stands out most on a swordfish is its long, flat bill. This “sword” is actually just an extension of the upper jaw. It is remarkable to note that these speedy beasts do not have teeth or scales! Young swordfish have teeth and scales, but they fall out when the swordfish matures.
Closing
So imagine yourself speeding through the oceans, snapping your strong jaws around tiny helpless fish. You swim at 50 mph, and even though you do not have teeth or scales like all the other fish, you are feared by almost all of them. You are an apex predator, but your habitat, diet, and body structure all greatly affect your lifestyle in many ways.