All of us have been fascinated by marine creatures at some point in our lives, especially when they are prized billfish like sailfish and swordfish.These fish are often used as prized game species for recreational anglers with their muscular, lean bodies and prominent bills. But due to similar appearances, these marine bigshots often get confused for one another.How do you tell the difference between fish of the deep oceans, such as sailfish or swordfish?Before we begin on that, let us get acquainted with the main group of fish species that these fish belong to, the billfish group.The term ‘billfish’ refers to a group of predatory fish recognized by their prominent bills, called rostra. They can also grow very big in their size, about 13 ft (4 m). Billfish are apex predators, which means that they feed mostly on smaller fish.Popular for their long spear-like or sword-like upper beaks, these fish are highly migratory and are hence found in the most tropical and subtropical habitats. In the case of swordfish, they are also found in temperate waters. They are generally blue-grey. Billfish are known to use their long spears or sword-like upper beaks to stun and slash at prey during feeding. The bills of billfish can surely spear prey, but they have also been known to spear boats accidentally, although they are not normally used in that way. They are highly valued as gamefish by sports fishermen. Billfish are huge, and some even reach more than 220 lb (100 kg) in the adult stage. Sailfish and blue marlin are members of the family Istiophoridae, and swordfish is the sole member of the family Xiphiidae.Of the three fish mentioned above, blue marlin, swordfish, and sailfish, the latter two are the most popular billfish. While the former is the most commercially fished, the latter is the world’s fastest known fish.Now that we are acquainted with billfish’s broader category, let us understand the query at hand, swordfish vs. sailfish. If the following facts interest you, you can further check out sailfish facts and coral snake vs. king snake here at Kidadl.What is the difference between sailfish vs swordfish?Though similar in appearance, there are multiple differences between sailfish, swordfish, and marlin that can help you differentiate. As stated earlier, both sailfish and swordfish are fairly widespread species. They are both pelagic fish, which means that they swim throughout the water column but never at the bottom of the sea. While sailfish prefer water temperatures ranging from 70-83°F (21-28°C), swordfish can tolerate a much wider range of temperatures. They can be found in water temperatures ranging from 41- 81°F (5-27°C). It might be interesting to know that swordfish have an organ inside their heads that is responsible for heating their eyes and brains, allowing them to hunt even in extremely cold waters. Another one of the differences between sailfish and swordfish is that the latter swims at a much deeper level of the sea.Even though these two billfish might be similar in appearance, they do have a lot of differences here as well. Swordfish are a lot bigger than sailfish. While the body of a swordfish is more cylindrical, the body of a sailfish is cylindrically compressed. Swordfish tend to be bulkier than sailfish as well.But the question is, what if you get hold of a juvenile swordfish? You cannot look at its size or measure how many feet it is. However, what you can do is pay attention to their fins. To be precise, the dorsal fins.Sailfish have a long dorsal fin that runs along most of their bodies. When extended, the dorsal fin gets twice the size of the body, giving the appearance of a sail-like structure. This is where this particular fish gets its name from. On the other hand, the dorsal fin of a swordfish is a slim crescent-shaped appendage that does not change shape.Are sailfish and swordfish related?Yes, the swordfish and sailfish are indeed related. After all, the similar appearance has got to come from somewhere, right?Both fish are from the same order, Perciformes. They are commonly known as billfish. An order is a taxonomical rank used to classify organisms and recognized by taxonomical codes. Organisms in the same order share a similar nature or character. Like in the case of swordfish and sailfish, both of them have a sword-like bill to hunt prey and are known to be among the quickest fish in the water.Does sailfish taste like swordfish?When it comes to taste, some fish are more revered for their culinary distinctions than others, and some are best left to the sea. While sailfish might be more sought-after in sports than in kitchens, people still wonder what the fish tastes like.To give you a vague idea, it does taste a lot like tuna. It is a firm and meaty fish and has a stronger fish flavor than most other pelagic fish, such as mahi-mahi and wahoo, making fishermen want to smoke this fish first before grilling it.Sailfish meat is compared to that of two other meaty fish: tuna and swordfish. The three fish are often cooked similarly. However, there are also differences between them, and the sailfish lacks the rich flavor and mildness of both the other fish. Sailfish meat tends to have a tinge of red, with darker meat found near the backbone. Swordfish meat, on the other hand, is a lot paler. By rule of thumb, the darker the meat, the more prominent the ‘fishy’ flavor.Are sailfish faster than swordfish?It is not easy to measure the speed at which fish swim. Whether they swim in the wild in the open ocean, in a tank, or tug on your line.The entire family of billfish is the fastest fish in the ocean. This is the reason they are most sought after by anglers, and they are extremely difficult to catch. Their speed also helps them hunt smaller fish.Out of the three main billfish species, sailfish are known to be the fastest fish in the ocean. The jury still needs to be out on the swimming speed of fish, as this is not an easy task. With their sail-resembling dorsal fin, sailfish are listed as the fastest fish across oceans because they are the fastest leapers and the fastest at swimming distances in the ocean. This 10 ft (3 m) long fish, which primarily feeds on bony fish and cephalopods, has shown a whopping speed of 68 mph (109 kph) in some speed trials.The swordfish, on the other hand, has a speed that is largely unknown to researchers. While they are known to be fast leapers in the ocean as well, some researchers claim their speed to be around 60 mph (96 kph). Others claim that it could be over 80 mph (128 kph) as well. As a result, the battle of sailfish vs. swordfish in terms of speed largely remains without any conclusion.All in all, despite belonging to the same order, there are several differences between sailfish and swordfish that the untrained eye can often miss. This is because both sail and swordfish come from two different species of fish. While they are both predators by nature, one can find differences in fin structure, habitat preference, whether tropical or temperate, body shapes, the range of depths they swim in, feeding habits, and much more. These aspects can be used to tell them apart.Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for sailfish vs swordfish faceoff: difference between fish simplified, then why not take a look at butterfly meaning in the bible: interesting symbolism facts revealed, or cockroach vs waterbug: insect differences simplified for kids.
All of us have been fascinated by marine creatures at some point in our lives, especially when they are prized billfish like sailfish and swordfish.
