Swordfish
Xiphias gladius
Valid name (FishBase; confirmed in Eschmeyer's Catalog of Fishes and WoRMS, October 2026).
- English
- Swordfish
- Scientific
- Xiphias gladius
- Dhivehi
- ތުންގަނޑު ހިބަރުThungadu hibaru
- Family
- Xiphiidae (swordfish)
- Maximum size
- Up to about 4.5 m (fork length); commonly 3 m; max. published weight 650 kg (FishBase); MRS 1997 gives common to 3 m; max. 4.5 m
- Depth and habitat
- Open ocean, near the surface and in mid-water, recorded from 0 to 2878 m (usually 0 to 550 m)
- IUCN status
- NT · Near ThreatenedNear Threatened (NT), assessed 2021
Description
A large, powerful billfish with a long, flat, sword-like bill, no pelvic fins and no scales in adults; it is blackish-brown above, fading to light brown below. It dives from the surface to great depths, often descending by day and rising at night, and slashes at fish and squid with its bill. It can reach about 4.5 m and 650 kg.
In the Maldives
Dhivehi name thungadu hibaru (MRS 1997). MRS notes it is very common offshore, making up roughly 80% of the billfish caught in an offshore survey in 1987-88.
Sources
- fishbase.se /summary/Xiphias-gladius.html
- fao.org /4/AD471E/AD471E00.htm
- dv.wikipedia.org /wiki/ތުންގަނޑު_ހިބަރު
- commons.wikimedia.org /wiki/File:Xiphias_gladius_23056964.jpg
Dhivehi name source: M.R.S. (1997) Fishes of the Maldives (FAO/BOBP MAG/21) gives 'Thungadu hibaru, Kanneli hibaru' (Latin form). Thaana from the Dhivehi Wikipedia article 'ތުންގަނޑު ހިބަރު' (derived from the MRS 1997 Dhivehi edition); it matches the Latin form. FishBase also lists 'Mas-hibaru' under India (Minicoy/Lakshadweep Mahl dialect); not used.