Keel-jawed needle fish (Tylosurus acus melanotus)

Scientific name: Tylosurus acus melanotus Bleeker, 1850

The Keel-jawed needle fish (Tylosurus acus melanotus) is a marine fish of the family Belonidae. Native range: Indo-Pacific, East Africa to the central and south Pacific. Eastern Central Pacific: oceanic islands such as the Revillagigedo, Clipperton and Cocos.

Biology

Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 24-27; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 22 - 24; Vertebrae: 90 - 95. Anterior part of dorsal fin with a low lobe, contained 10.5-13.3 times in body length; a distinct black lateral keel on caudal peduncle; caudal fin deeply forked. Juveniles have an elevated black lobe in the posterior part of the dorsal fin. Longer jaws with more numerous teeth and narrower caudal lobes than T. crocodilus.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name
Tylosurus acus melanotus
Family
Belonidae (Needlefishes)
Order
Beloniformes (Needle fishes)
Class
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length
100.0
Common length
115
Depth range
0–1 m (0–3 ft)
Environment
Marine; reef-associated; oceanodromous; depth range 0 - 1 m
Climate
Tropical
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: East Africa to the central and south Pacific. Eastern Central Pacific: oceanic islands such as the Revillagigedo, Clipperton and Cocos.
Conservation status (IUCN)
Not Evaluated
Threat to humans
Harmless
Uses
Fisheries: commercial
Resilience
Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (Preliminary K or Fecundity.)

Sources

Taxonomy, distribution and biology data: FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly, eds.), licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

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