sp/iofl 



Figure 1. — Swordfish (Xiphias gladius) skull. A. Dorsal 

 view. B. Lateral view. (From Gregory and Conrad, 1937.) 



REVIEW OF 

 THE FOSSIL RECORD 



Generally, taxonomists (Berg, 1940; Regan, 1909; 

 and Romer, 1966) recognize five billfish families: 

 Blochiidae, Istiophoridae, Paleorhynchidae, 

 Xiphiidae, and Xiphiorhynchidae. I will use these 

 families as a starting point for the following discus- 

 sion. I agree with Gosline (1968, 1971) that these 



Figure 2. — Striped marlin (Tetrapturus audax) skull. A. 

 Dorsal view. B. Lateral view. 



Xiphias 



Figure 3. — Trunk vertebrae of billfish. (From Gregory 

 and Conrad, 1937.) 



families should be placed in their own suborder, the 

 Xiphioidei, within the Order Perciformes. I have 

 neglected to include the family Luvaridae within the 

 Xiphioidei because I do not believe it belongs there 

 (it has a peculiar vertebral column and no rostrum) 

 and because it has no fossil record. 



35 



