Keeltail needlefish (Platybelone argalus argalus)

Scientific name: Platybelone argalus argalus Lesueur, 1821

The Keeltail needlefish (Platybelone argalus argalus) is a marine fish of the family Belonidae. Native range: Western Atlantic, North Carolina, USA to Brazil, including the Bahamas, Gulf of Mexico, and Caribbean Sea.

Biology

Occurs offshore; particularly abundant around islands; schools in sheltered parts of the reef. Feeds mainly on small fishes. Oviparous. Eggs may be found attached to objects in the water by tendrils on the egg's surface

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name
Platybelone argalus argalus
Family
Belonidae (Needlefishes)
Order
Beloniformes (Needle fishes)
Class
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length
50.0
Common length
35.0
Environment
Marine; reef-associated; depth range 0 - ? m, usually 0 - 2 m
Climate
Subtropical
Distribution
Western Atlantic: North Carolina, USA to Brazil, including the Bahamas, Gulf of Mexico, and Caribbean Sea.
Conservation status (IUCN)
Not Evaluated
Threat to humans
Harmless
Uses
Fisheries: subsistence fisheries
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.

Last updated