WHATSTHATFISH
Bony fish

Garfish

Belone belone

Also known as: Gar Pike, Greenbone, Hornfish, Hound Needlefish, Sea Needle

LCLeast ConcernIUCN Red List, 2015
Adult
@fishx6 · Rhodes, Greece · August 20111 / 3
01

Overview

Found singly or in small schools, on the surface of the sea, over sand and reef areas of coastlines.
Widespread - Eastern Atlantic, Mediterranean

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

COLOURS
Body shape
needle
Head & Mouth
long nose

Tap any trait to see other fish that share it.

03

Habitat & where to find it

  • Range · Eastern Atlantic, Mediterranean
  • Country only · 3
LIVES IN

Found singly or in small schools, on the surface of the sea, over sand and reef areas of coastlines.

04

Adult photos 3

05

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. genusBelone
    7. speciesBelone belone (Linnaeus, 1760)

    SourcesWoRMSFishBase

    06

    More in the family

    Needlefishes (Belonidae)