Tuesday 24 June 2014

ABC Wednesday, X for Xiphias


 I am going to talk about the Xiphias, as my previous post was about the whale. And this fish may swim in the same waters as the whale does.


The swordfish is named after its bill resembling a sword . This makes it superficially similar to other billfish such as marlin, but upon examination, their physiology is quite different and they are members of different families.


They commonly reach 3 m  in length, and the maximum reported is 4.55 m  in length and 650 kg  in weight. Females are larger than males, and Pacific swordfish reach a greater size than northwest Atlantic and Mediterranean swordfish.They reach maturity at 4–5 years of age and the maximum age is believed to be at least 9 years. The oldest swordfish found in a recent study were a 16-year-old female and 12-year-old male. Swordfish ages are derived, with difficulty, from annual rings on fin rays.

 

Swordfish have evolved to be formidable predators. They possess acute eyesight, with which they can locate prey, and their flesh consists primarily of ‘white’ muscle which provides energy for sudden bursts of activity, such as when in pursuit of their quarry . The swordfish then uses its bill to stun or impale its victim, slashes it into pieces or swallows it whole . Swordfish feed during the day , primarily on squid, but also fish and occasionally crustaceans

 

Swordfish  have special organs next to their eyes to heat their eyes and brains. Temperatures of 10 to 15°C above the surrounding water temperature have been measured. The heating of the eyes greatly improves their vision, and consequently improves their ability to catch prey.



Don't forget to link to ABC Wednesday and to mention the creator of this meme, Denise Nesbitt! 

See you!

Wil, ABCW Team

 

20 comments:

Sylvia K said...

Great, interesting post for the day, Wil!! What a great X Word!! Hope you have a great week!

Roger Owen Green said...

A fish that really gets to the point, evidently

Rajesh said...

That is really huge dangerous looking fish. Thanks for sharing.

Hildred said...

Very interesting post, - not a fish one would want to meet underwater!

Ann said...

Oh my that is a large one in the boat. I love Rogers comment--and wouldn't want to see one in the water if I was there too.
Ann

Leslie: said...

Wow! They're huge! And the skeleton photo makes it look even more fierce than it does with its flesh on! lol

Leslie
abcw team

ellen b. said...

Very interesting info on the Swordfish. When my boys were young they'd order swordfish when we went to any seafood restaurant before I could stop them. Very expensive on the menu...
I think they thought it was such a cool looking fish that they didn't hesitate to choose that for their meal.

AmitAag said...

Strange and quite amazing! Great post, Wil, thankyou:)

Hazel said...

Xiphias - it's a new word to me. Oh my, I just glanced down; didn't realize they could be that big!

lotusleaf said...

What an interesting post! I always learn something new when I visit you.

SamuraiFrog said...

I'd never heard this word before, but they certainly are impressive fish.

Nana Jo said...

A new word for me, too. I've never tasted sword fish but would like to one day. An interesting take on the X.

http://booksbeautybeing.blogspot.ca/

Tina Basu said...

OMG such a huge swordfish!! The skeleton photo looks even more scary. Had no idea about xiphias,

Tina from The Sunny Side of Life

Trubes said...

What an enormous creature, like most comments I wouldn't like to swim alongside one of those fishies.
I've only eaten it once and didn't like it at all, very dry. Yet, a lot of my friends say how good it is...Didn't help also, when I was about to take my first taste, youngest daughter piped up with, how swordfish were susceptible to tapeworm.
Children can be quite revolting at times...needless to say I have never touched it again !
Interesting post Wil, as ever.
Di.x

Louisette said...

Nice post and fotos, interesting.

Nonnie said...

that is one giant sword on that fish!

Black Jack's Carol said...

Ms. Vegan here does not like to see that beautiful creature laid out on a table but I know that's life. Very interesting info, though. Imagine having our very own brain and eye heater :)

Sallie (FullTime-Life) said...

Fish are so interesting in how they have evolved. We are in Alaska and learned recently about why the halibut has both eyes on one side of its head. A great find for the letter "X" too ... I'm sure that must be the hardest one.

Anonymous said...

What an unusual fish.

Marja said...

Amazing to see how long the sword actually is. Handy for slashing the prey and having such great vision as well he won't easily go hungry I guess