Keeled needlefish (Platybelone argalus platyura)

Scientific name: Platybelone argalus platyura Bennett, 1832

The Keeled needlefish (Platybelone argalus platyura) is a marine fish of the family Belonidae.

Biology

Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 12-15; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 15 - 20; Vertebrae: 62 - 75. Gill rakers present; dorsal fin rays few, 12-15; caudal peduncle greatly depressed with very large keel on each side. See also.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name
Platybelone argalus platyura
Family
Belonidae (Needlefishes)
Order
Beloniformes (Needle fishes)
Class
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length
38.2
Common length
30.0
Depth range
0–2 m (0–7 ft)
Environment
Marine; reef-associated; oceanodromous; depth range 0 - 2 m
Climate
Tropical
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: East Africa to the Hawaiian and Tuamoto islands, north to the Ogasawara Islands. The subspecies platura from the Red Sea to Persian Gulf, platyura in the rest of the Indo-Pacific, and argalus in the tropical Atlantic.
Conservation status (IUCN)
Not Evaluated
Threat to humans
Harmless
Uses
Fisheries: of no interest; gamefish: yes
Resilience
High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (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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