The swordfish has a long and torpedo-like body with sword-like extension, which is about a third of the body length. The fully grown animals reach a body length of up to five meters. It has strong fins and the tail fin is crescent-shaped. Its colouring reaches from dark grey over dark blue or brownish red. The swordfish lives on shoal fishes. In search for food it penetrates into depths of up to 800 meters.
The swordfish belongs to the family Xiphiidae. It can be found in moderately warm and warm seas of the earth. The Northeast Atlantic up to the English Channel, the North Sea, the Mediterranean and the Black Sea belong to its ranges.