WHATSTHATFISH
Bony fish

Spot-tail Needlefish

Strongylura strongylura

Also known as: Banded Needlefish, Blackspot Longtom, Fullbeak, Fullbeak Garfish, Garfish, Light-colored Garfish, Roundtail Alligator Garfish, Roundtail Needlefish

Adult
@fishx6 · Blow Holes, Carnarvon, WA, Australia · June 20131 / 2
01

Overview

Found singly or in small schools, close to the surface, over coastal bays, estuaries and mangrove-lined lagoons.

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
Pattern
spots
Body shape
needle
Head & Mouth
long nose

Tap any trait to see other fish that share it.

03

Habitat & where to find it

  • Range · Indo-West Pacific
  • Exact location · 2
LIVES IN

Found singly or in small schools, close to the surface, over coastal bays, estuaries and mangrove-lined lagoons.

04

Adult photos 2

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. genusStrongylura
    7. speciesStrongylura strongylura (van Hasselt, 1823)

    SourcesWoRMSFishBase

    06

    More in the family

    Needlefishes (Belonidae)