3.3.9.6.4 Xiphidae (Swordfishes)

3.3.9.6.4 Xiphidae (Swordfishes)

  • Body elongate and cylindrical
  • Upper jaw prolonged into a long bill (but both jaws prolonged into long bills in immature individuals)
  • No gill rakers on gill arches
  • Two separate dorsal fin in adults (continuous in immature specimens) the first much larger than the second
  • Pectoral fins falcate
  • Pelvic fins absent
  • A large keel on each side of caudal peduncle
  • Lateral line indistinct, but recognizable in specimens of 1 m length

Eg. Xiphias gladius

Xiphidae_Swordfishes

Similar Families

Istiophoridae - Upper jaw prolonged into long spear; Two dorsal fins close together; pelvic fin present; a pair of keels on each side of caudal fin base; lateral line present.

Last modified: Tuesday, 24 January 2012, 9:52 AM