WHATSTHATFISH
Bony fish

Freshwater Garfish

Xenentodon cancila

Also known as: Asian Freshwater Needlefish, Asian Needlefish, Freshwater Gar, Garfish, Gar, Longnose Gar, Needlenose Gar, Needlenose Halfbeak, Silver Needlefish, Stickfish

LCLeast ConcernIUCN Red List, 2019
Handle with careLook, don't touch
Adult
@tirthankar · Kolkata, India · February 20181 / 1
01

Overview

Found singly, or in pairs, over gravel, rock, and sandy areas, in deep pools, of clear flowing ponds, rivers, and streams.
Asia - India, Sri Lanka

Needlefish hunt smaller fish just below the surface of the sea, but in turn the are also hunted by larger fish like Tuna and can sometimes be seen leaping into the air and seeming to skip along on their tails on the surface of the water to escape predators.
Potentially dangerous at night when attracted to light as they leap out of the water and have been known to cause fatalities with their beaks!

02

How to identify

Body shape
needle
Head & Mouth
long nose

Tap any trait to see other fish that share it.

03

Habitat & where to find it

  • Country only · 1
LIVES IN

Found singly, or in pairs, over gravel, rock, and sandy areas, in deep pools, of clear flowing ponds, rivers, and streams.

04

Adult photos 1

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Discussion

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    ALL STAGES
    FOR THE MARINE-BIOLOGY CURIOUS

    Deep dive

    Taxonomy

    1. kingdomAnimalia
    2. phylumChordata
    3. classTeleostei
    4. orderBeloniformes
    5. familyBelonidae
    6. genusXenentodon
    7. speciesXenentodon cancila (Hamilton, 1822)

    SourcesWoRMSFishBase

    06

    More in the family

    Needlefishes (Belonidae)