# Swordfish (*Xiphias gladius*)

Canonical page: https://creaturedata.com/animals/swordfish  
Data as of: 2026-11-11

The swordfish (Xiphias gladius) is a bony fish in the family Xiphiidae, within the order Carangiformes and the class Teleostei. Its scientific name was given by Linnaeus, 1758, and it is also called Shutome, Pirapucu, Broadbill, Swordfish sucker and Atlantic swordfish. The global IUCN Red List assessment lists the swordfish as Near Threatened (NT), which is not an IUCN threatened category.

## Quick facts

| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Weight | up to 650 kg |
| Length | 3 m – 4.55 m |
| Lifespan | Not recorded |
| Main food | Not recorded |
| Habitat | Not recorded |
| Young per litter or clutch | Not recorded |
| Migration | Migratory |
| Conservation status | Near Threatened (IUCN) |
| Countries on record | Not recorded |

## Classification

- kingdom: Animalia
- phylum: Chordata
- class: Teleostei
- order: Carangiformes
- family: Xiphiidae
- genus: Xiphias
- species: *Xiphias gladius* Linnaeus, 1758

Synonyms: *Phaethonichthys tuberculatus*, *Tetrapterus imperator*, *Tetrapturus imperator*, *Xiphasia gladius*, *Xiphias estara*, *Xiphias gladius estara*, *Xiphias imperator*, *Xiphias kleinii*, *Xiphias rondeletii*, *Xiphias rondeletti*, *Xiphias thermaicus*, *Xyphias gladius*

## Common questions

### What kind of animal is the swordfish?

The swordfish is a bony fish in the family Xiphiidae and the order Carangiformes.

### What is the scientific name of the swordfish?

The scientific name of the swordfish is Xiphias gladius, in the genus Xiphias.

### Who named the swordfish and when?

The swordfish was named by Linnaeus, 1758.

### Is the swordfish endangered?

No. The global IUCN Red List assessment lists the swordfish as Near Threatened (NT), which is not an IUCN threatened category.

### What are other names for the swordfish?

Other English names for the swordfish are Shutome, Pirapucu, Broadbill, Swordfish sucker and Atlantic swordfish.

## Sources

- [Catalogue of Life eXtended Release](https://www.checklistbank.org/dataset/316691), CC BY 4.0, 2026-10-16 XR. Catalogue of Life (2026). Catalogue of Life eXtended Release, version 2026-10-16 XR. Catalogue of Life Foundation, Amsterdam, Netherlands. https://doi.org/10.48580/dgzlf
- [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org), per file (CC0 / public domain / CC BY green, CC BY-SA amber, anything else not displayed), 2026-11-11. Wikimedia Commons contributors. Wikimedia Commons. https://commons.wikimedia.org (each file credited to its author under its own licence).
- [Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org), CC0 1.0, 2026-11-11. Wikidata contributors. Wikidata. https://www.wikidata.org (data retrieved via the Wikidata Query Service).
- [Wikipedia (English)](https://en.wikipedia.org), CC BY-SA 4.0, 2026-11-11. Wikipedia contributors. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. https://en.wikipedia.org (text under CC BY-SA 4.0; each block names its article and revision).

Cite as: Swordfish (Xiphias gladius). Retrieved from https://creaturedata.com/animals/swordfish