Squid is a favorite meal for swordfish, as demonstrated by this specific fish caught off Sardinia.
In a groundbreaking study published today in the Journal of Experimental Biology, scientists have discovered a new, never-before-seen organ at the base of the swordfish's bill. This organ, an oil-producing gland, could potentially provide swordfish with an evolutionary edge, aiding them in outswimming their prey.
John Videler, a retired marine zoologist at Groningen University in the Netherlands, led the study. He explains that the oil produced by the gland creates a water-repelling layer across the front of the swordfish's head, reducing drag. This reduction in drag is crucial for speed, as it slows an object down as it propels itself through a liquid.
The swordfish, known for their remarkable speed, can reach speeds of over 60 miles per hour (97 kilometers per hour). Attaining high speeds is crucial to the success of swordfish, according to Lund University's Warrant. He describes the discovery of the oil gland in swordfish as a superb example of how species compete with each other in an evolutionary arms race.
The oil-producing gland would add to the swordfish's advantage as a predator, according to Warrant. The swordfish's head is referred to as a "superhydrophobic surface" by fluid dynamicists, according to Videler. However, it's worth noting that aerospace engineer Nicole Sharp, author of the fluid-dynamic blog FYFD, is not yet convinced that the swordfish's head qualifies as superhydrophobic.
The scientists hypothesize that the scales around the opening of each pore create microscopic air pockets between the water and the fish's skin, another way to reduce drag. This hypothesis is supported by the observation of tiny, scale-like denticles around the opening of each pore in the 20-year-old MRI scans of swordfish that the team examined.
Despite the advancements in understanding the swordfish's speed, there are still many mysteries surrounding these fast-swimming predators. For instance, swordfish can't be kept in captivity, and their speed makes them difficult to observe in the wild.
This discovery adds to the growing body of knowledge about the adaptations that allow swordfish to swim at such high speeds. While the exact function of the oil-producing gland at the base of a swordfish's bill remains to be fully understood, it's clear that this organ plays a significant role in the swordfish's remarkable speed and success as a predator.
- The discovery of the oil-producing gland in swordfish, aided by advancements in science, such as MRI scans, underlines the continuous quest for understanding earth's species and their extraordinary adaptations.
- John Videler's team's findings about the oil-producing gland in swordfish show how fitness-and-exercise strategies, like the reduction of drag, contribute to the health-and-wellness of these marine species, fostering their survival.
- In studying the superhydrophobic surface of the swordfish's head, researchers are introduced to an interesting intersection of sports-analysis and biology, learning how species compete and evolve in the ocean's vast environment.
- The oil gland in swordfish is yet another piece of evidence supporting the notion of evolutionary arms races, where species develop specific traits, such as advanced aerodynamics, to outperform their competitors.
