Agujon needlefish (Tylosurus acus)
Key facts
- Scientific name
- Tylosurus acus
- Common name
- Agujon needlefish
- Category
- Fish
- Family
- Belonidae
- Genus
- Tylosurus
- Size
- 60–120 cm
- Depth
- 0–30 m
- IUCN status
- Least concern (LC)
- Danger level
- Harmless
- Habitats
- open-water
- Behaviours
- solitary, schooling, fast-moving
- Ocean zones
- Asian Pacific, Indian Ocean & Red Sea, Macaronesia, Mediterranean, Eastern Pacific
Description
Tylosurus acus reaches 120 cm. Needlefish (Belonidae) with extremely elongated uniform blue-silver body with white belly, long thin needle-shaped jaws with small sharp teeth (hence acus, needle). Lives at surface from 0 to 30 m in open water of Mediterranean, temperate and tropical Atlantic, Indo-Pacific. Fast predator of small fish at surface, capable of spectacular jumps out of water. Larger than Belone belone (already in base). Wide-angle surface photo subject, beware jumps.
Frequently asked questions
- How big is the Agujon needlefish?
- Agujon needlefish (Tylosurus acus) reaches 60–120 cm in length.
- At what depth can you find the Agujon needlefish?
- Agujon needlefish is found between 0–30 m deep.
- Is the Agujon needlefish dangerous to divers?
- Danger level: Harmless.
- What is the conservation status of the Agujon needlefish?
- IUCN status: Least concern (LC).
- Where can you find the Agujon needlefish?
- Found in: Asian Pacific, Indian Ocean & Red Sea, Macaronesia, Mediterranean, Eastern Pacific.
Other species in the family Belonidae
Sources
- Taxonomy: WoRMS (AphiaID 126378)
- Photos: iNaturalist (CC BY-NC)
- Distribution: GBIF (taxonKey 4286156)
- Conservation: IUCN Red List
- Encyclopedia: Wikipedia