Swordfish Skull Replica

Description

Swordfish Skull Replica measures 24 x 5 x 5 inches. Swordfish Skull Replica is a 2-Part Skull and cranium. Swordfish Skull Replica is museum quality polyurethane resin cast. Also known as the Broadbill Swordfish. Weight is 2 lb. Shipping weight is 15 lb. due to length.

Swordfish or Xiphias gladius are elongated, round-bodied, and lose all teeth and scales by adulthood. These fish are found widely in tropical and temperate parts of the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans, and can typically be found from near the surface to a depth of 1,800 feet. They commonly reach 10 feet in length, and the maximum reported is 14 ft. 11 in. in length and 1,430 lb. in weight.

Females are larger than males, and Pacific Swordfish reach a greater size than northwest Atlantic and Mediterranean swordfish.

They reach maturity at 4 to 5 years of age and the maximum age is believed to be at least 9 years. The oldest swordfish found in a recent study were a 16-year-old female and 12-year-old male. Swordfish ages are derived, with difficulty, from annual rings on fin rays rather than otoliths, since their otoliths are small in size.

Swordfish are ectothermic animals; along with some species of sharks, they have special organs next to their eyes to heat their eyes and brains. Their eyes are heated to temperatures measured between 10 to 15 °C (18 to 27 °F) above the surrounding water temperature, this heating greatly improves their vision, and consequently improves their ability to catch prey. The swordfish is one of 22 fish, including the marlin, tuna, and some sharks, known to have a mechanism that conserves heat.

The popular belief of the “sword” being used as a spear is misleading. Their nose is more likely used to slash at its prey to injure the prey animal, to make for an easier catch. They use as an offensive spear in case of dangers against large sharks or animals is under review.

Swordfish are not schooling fish. They swim alone or in very loose aggregations, separated by as much as 35 feet from a neighboring swordfish. They are frequently found basking at the surface, airing their first dorsal fin. Boaters report this to be a beautiful sight, as is the powerful jumping for which the species is known.

This highly migratory species typically moves towards colder regions to feed during the summer. Swordfish feed daily, most often at night, when they rise to surface and near-surface waters in search of smaller fish. During the day, they commonly occur to depths 1,800 feet and have exceptionally been recorded as deep as 9,442 feet.

Adults feed on a wide range of pelagic fish, such as mackerel, barracudinas, silver hake, rockfish, herring, and lanternfishes, but they also take demersal fish, squid, and crustaceans. In the northwestern Atlantic, a survey based on the stomach content of 168 individuals found 82% had eaten squid and 53% had eaten fish, including Gadids, Scombrids, Butterfish, Bluefish, and Sand lance. Large prey are typically slashed with the sword, while small are swallowed whole.

Fully adult swordfish have few natural predators. Among marine mammals, killer whales sometimes prey on adult swordfish. The shortfin Mako, an exceptionally fast species of shark, sometimes take on swordfish; dead or dying shortfin Mako sharks have been found with broken-off swords in their heads, revealing the danger of this type of prey.

Juvenile swordfish are far more vulnerable to predation, and are eaten by a wide range of predatory fish. Intensive fishery may be driving swordfishes and sharks into harder competition for reduced amounts of prey and therefore pitting them to fight more.

Human fishery is a major predator of swordfishes. The annual reported catch in 2019 of the North Atlantic swordfish amounted to a total of 1.3 million kilograms (2.9 million pounds).

Swordfish are vigorous, powerful fighters. Although no unprovoked attacks on humans have been reported, swordfish can be very dangerous when harpooned. They have run their swords through the planking of small boats when hurt. In 2015, a Hawaiian fisherman was killed by a swordfish after attempting to spear the animal.

Recreational fishing has developed a subspecialty called Swordfishing. Because of a ban on long-lining along many parts of seashore, swordfish populations are showing signs of recovery from the overfishing caused by long-lining along the coast.

Various ways are used to fish for swordfish, but the most common method is deep-drop fishing, since swordfish spend most daylight hours very deep, in the deep scattering layer. The boat is allowed to drift to present a more natural bait.

Swordfishing requires strong fishing rods and reels, as swordfish can become quite large, and it is not uncommon to use a 5 lb. or more of weight to get the baits deep enough during the day, up to 1,500 feet is common.

Night fishing baits are usually fished much shallower, often less than 300 feet. Standard baits are whole mackerel, herring, mullet, bonito, or squid; one can also use live bait. Imitation squids and other imitation fish lures can also be used, and specialized lures made specifically for sword fishing often have battery-powered or glow lights. Some baits are typically presented using glow sticks or specialized deep water-proof battery operated lights.

Broadbill Swordfish Facts:
Conservation status: Near Threatened
Scientific classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Istiophoriformes
Family: Xiphiidae
Swainson, 1839
Genus: Xiphias
Linnaeus, 1758
Species: X. gladius
Binomial name: Xiphias gladius

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Additional information

Weight	15 lbs
Dimensions	24 in