| Xippiidae is a family of large oceanic cold water fishes. There is only on species in the family, the swordfish.The swordfish has a prolonged upper jaw resembling a sword. The extension is flattened and serrated. The swordfish is sometimes called a "broadbill". It differs from the billfish family (Istiopharidae) by having a flattened extended upper jaw (in circumference) versus a rounded one in billfish. It also differs from the Istiopharidae by lacking pelvic fins. Swordfishes are popular in recreational fishing and can be found in Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans at depths of around 2000 ft. Swordfish are commercially fished off Hawaii, California, Florida and the North Atlantic using longllines, gill nets, harpoons, hook and line and sometimes trawls. |
