📸 PhotoPhoto: Public domain · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons Source
Swordfish
Xiphias gladius (Swordfish · メカジキ)
💡 Everyday Comparisons for Size, Mass & Speed
- 💡 The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) lists swordfish among the "Choices to Avoid" with the highest mercury levels for people who are or might become pregnant, breastfeeding mothers, and children.
- 💡 Its maximum length of 455 cm is similar to the length of a passenger car (about 4.5 m) (Comparison).
- 💡 Its maximum weight of 650 kg is a little over thirty-two 20 kg bags of rice (Comparison).
Reference standards: coach bus ~12 m, mid-size car ~4.9 m, compact car ~1 t, basketball hoop 3.05 m, credit card 8.56 cm.
Site-computed relative index from recorded values; not a formal scientific metric.
📖 1. Overview
The swordfish is a large fish that migrates widely across open tropical and temperate waters of the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans.
🦴 2. Anatomy & Morphology
It is known to reach a maximum fork length of 455 cm and a maximum weight of 650 kg, using its sword-like protruding upper jaw to slash at and catch prey.
🔍 3. Ecology & Behavior
Adults mainly feed on fish as well as crustaceans and squid, and in spring they spawn in batches near the surface, producing floating eggs.
🇰🇷 4. Connection to Korea
It is listed on the National List of Species of Korea (National Institute of Biological Resources (NIBR)) as "Hwangsaechi" (Korean name).
📚 Sources & References
- • IUCN Red List NT (2022) — https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/23148/46625751
- • IUCN Red List category NT — latest assessment at iucnredlist.org
- • catalogueoflife.org — 7G9C4
- • iucnredlist.org — 46625751
- • 국가생물종목록(국립생물자원관) ktsn 120000059188 — https://species.nibr.go.kr/home/mainHome.do?cont_link=009&subMenu=009002&contCd=009002&ktsn=120000059188
- • wikidata.org — Q164327
- • commons.wikimedia.org — File:Xiphias gladius1.jpg
- • fishbase.se — Xiphias-gladius.html
- • species.nibr.go.kr — general-search
- • fda.gov — advice-about-eating-fish
- • Silhouette: PhyloPic — author not recorded · CC0 1.0
Recorded dimensions are widely cited representative estimates from public literature and may vary by study or specimen.