Swordfish

High school (ages 12+)
Animals & Nature

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/swordfish

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the scientific name?Xiphias gladius
2. What is the habitat?Epipelagic and upper mesopelagic zones of all temperate and tropical oceans worldwide
3. What makes swordfish so fast?Swordfish can swim faster than 97 km/h (60 mph). Their smooth bill and streamlined body reduce drag, and their powerful muscles and long, forked tail help them cut through water quickly.
4. Why does a swordfish have a sword‑like nose?The swordfish's bill is a special part of its upper jaw. It helps the fish feel where food is, cut through schools of fish, and keeps the head streamlined so it can swim fast.

Apex Predator: An animal at the top of the food chain with no natural predators.
Pelagic Zone: The open ocean, encompassing the water column away from shore and the seabed.
Bycatch: Unintentionally caught marine life during fishing operations that are not the intended target.