Swordfish - swordfish (English spelling)

It is a marine fish belonging to the order Perciformes of the class Osteichthyes and the family Swordfish. There is one genus and one species that is common to the world. It is characterized by a long, double-edged sword-like snout. It lacks pelvic fins and has large eyes. Unlike fish of the Marlinidae family, it does not have scales (they are there at juvenile stage but disappear as it grows). It is large, reaching a weight of 500 kilograms. Females become larger than males. Its spawning grounds are tropical and subtropical waters, but as it grows it mainly lives in temperate zones. It often preys on squid and is highly nocturnal. It also visits the waters near Japan and is caught with longlines and drift nets. Its meat is pale pink and soft, and is not very good as sashimi, but it is enjoyed as steak in Europe and America.

[Shoji Ueyanagi]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

硬骨魚綱スズキ目メカジキ科に属する海水魚。1属1種の世界共通種。両刃の剣状の長大な吻(ふん)が特徴。腹びれを欠く。目が大きい。マカジキ科の魚と異なり鱗(うろこ)がない（幼期にはあるが成長に伴って消失する）。魚体が大きく体重500キログラムに達する。雌が雄よりも大形になる。産卵場は熱帯・亜熱帯の海域であるが、成長に伴って温帯域をおもな生活域とする。イカをよく捕食し、夜行性が強い。日本近海にも来遊し、延縄(はえなわ)、流し網などで漁獲される。肉は淡紅色で柔らかく刺身としてはやや劣るが、ヨーロッパやアメリカではステーキとして賞味される。

［上柳昭治］

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