AnimalsCroatia
Swordfish Fun facts for kids
Xiphias gladius
The swordfish lives far out in oceans all over the world and eats fish, squid and octopus.
- Where it lives
- far out in oceans all over the world
- What it eats
- fish, squid and octopus
- How big it is
- longer than a grown-up person
Fun facts about the swordfish
The ones Sammy likes best. She tells them in the game, too.
The swordfish has a special heater near its eyes that keeps its eyes and brain warm in cold, deep water.
A swordfish's eyes can be as big as a tennis ball, some of the biggest eyes of any fish!
The swordfish's long, flat sword is really its top jaw, grown super long.
A swordfish swings its sword from side to side to slash and stun its food, not to poke it.
Baby swordfish have teeth and scales, but grown-up swordfish have none at all.
Swordfish sometimes leap high out of the water, maybe to shake off little critters stuck to them.
A baby swordfish hatches smaller than a grain of rice, but grows longer than a grown-up person.
Swordfish dive deep into the dark sea during the day and swim up near the top at night.
Riddle
Can a friend guess it?
Read the clues to someone, one at a time, without saying the animal. How many clues do they need? Fewer is better, just like in the game.
I live far out in the open sea, and I swim in the Adriatic Sea too.
By day I dive deep into the dark sea, and at night I swim up near the top.
I have a special heater near my eyes, and they can be as big as a tennis ball.
When I was a baby I had teeth and scales, but now I have none at all.
My top jaw grows into a long, flat blade that I swing to slash and stun my food.
Sammy might be thinking of a swordfish.
In Thought Zoo, Sammy picks an animal and you ask her yes-or-no questions to find it. You'll find the swordfish in the Croatia adventure.
Play the CroatiaComing to iPad, iPhone and Android on 12 January 2027
