Swordfish

The swordfish, Xiphias gladius, is a large, highly migratory predatory fish characterized by a long, flat, sword-like, pointed bill, the sole member of the family Xiphiidae, and it loses all its teeth and scales upon reaching maturity. It inhabits tropical and temperate parts of the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans, typically from near-surface waters down to about 550 meters, with recorded dives to 2,878 meters, commonly reaching 3 meters in length though the largest recorded specimen measured 4.55 meters and weighed 650 kilograms, with females growing larger than males. As an oily fish its meat is a popular cooking ingredient, typically sold as steaks suitable for grilling, with flesh color varying by diet and often rosier in fish caught off the East Coast; health authorities warn of methylmercury toxicity and the FDA recommends that young children, pregnant women and those planning pregnancy avoid eating it.