Tylosurus crocodilus crocodilus

• Taxonomy
• Physical Description
• Distribution
• Habitat
• Similar Species
• Bibliography
• More Info
• Notes
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Overview:

Family: Needlefishes; A pelagic species (Ref. 26340) found over lagoon and seaward reefs. Solitary or in small groups. Feeds on fishes (Ref. 11889). Oviparous (Ref. 205). Eggs may be found attached to objects in the water by tendrils on the egg's surface (Ref. 205). Feared by fishers because they can cause puncture wounds with their sharp snouts when jumping out of the water, e.g. when alarmed or attracted to lights at night. Although sold fresh and considered a good food fish, its market is limited due to the green-colored flesh (Ref. 5217).

Taxonomy

Unambiguous Synonyms:

1. Belona crocodila P�ron & Lesueur, 1821
2. Belone annulata Valenciennes, 1846
3. Belone coromandelica van Hasselt, 1823
4. Belone crassa Poey, 1860
5. Belone crocodila P�ron & Lesueur, 1821
6. Belone cylindrica Bleeker, 1852
7. Belone gerania (non Valenciennes, 1846)
8. Belone gigantea Temminck & Schlegel, 1846
9. Belone koseirensis Klunzinger, 1871
10. Belone melanochira Poey, 1860
11. Belone melanurus Bleeker, 1849
12. Belone raphidoma Ranzani, 1842
13. Belone timucoides van Hasselt, 1824
14. Esox aaveri Curtiss, 1938
15. Strongylura crocodila (non Peron & Lesueur, 1821)
16. Strongylura gigantea (Temminck & Schlegel, 1846)
17. Strongylura raphidoma (non Ranzani, 1842)
18. Tylosurus annulatus (Valenciennes, 1846)
19. Tylosurus crocodilus (P�ron & Lesueur, 1821)
20. Tylosurus giganteus (Temminck & Schlegel, 1846)
21. Tylosurus gladius Bean, 1882
22. Tylosurus raphidoma (Ranzani, 1842)

Misapplied Names:

1. Belone choram (non R�ppell, 1838)
2. Belone marisrubri marisrubri (non Bloch & Schneider, 1801)
3. Belone robusta (non Günther, 1866)
4. Mastaccembelus choram (non R�ppell, 1837)
5. Tylosurus choram (R�ppell, 1837)

Physical Description

Family Belonidae:

Distribution: Marine and freshwater. Tropical and temperate waters. Diagnostic Features: Elongate fishes with both upper and lower jaws extended into long beaks filled with sharp teeth (except in neotenic Belonion); nostrils in a pit anterior to eyes. No spines in fins; dorsal and anal fins posterior in position; pectoral fins short. Dorsal fin with 11-43 rays; anal fin with 12-39 rays, pelvic fins, with 6 soft rays, are located in an abdominal position; and pectoral fins with 5-15 rays. Lateral line running down from pectoral fin origin and then along ventral margin of body. Scales small, cycloid, easily detached. Precaudal vertebrae 33-65, caudal vertebrae 19-41 and total vertebrae 52-97. Colour: These fishes live at the surface and are protectively colored for this mode of life by being green or blue on the back and silvery white on the lower sides and belly. Usually, a dusky or dark blue stripe along sides; fleshy tip of lower jaw frequently red or orange. Some fresh water needlefishes reach only 6 or 7 cm in total length while some marine species may attain 2 m. Composition of Family: The Belonidae contains 10 genera and 34 species. Four genera are monotypic: the southern African Petalichthys, the worldwide Ablennes and Platybelone, and apparently the Asian freshwater Xenetodon. The eastern Atlantic Belone contains two species. Tylosurus contains six species of strictly marine species. Three genera are restricted to freshwaters of South America: Belonion (two species), Potamorrhaphis (three), and Pseudotylosurus (two). The most speciose genus, Strongylura, contains 14 species, mostly marine, some estuarine, and three strictly freshwater, two of which are found in Central and South America, S. fluviatilis from Ecuador and Colombia and S. hubbsi from Mexico and Guatemala. Five species are considered polytypic, containing a total of 17 subspecies. Habitat and Biology: Most species are marine, but some occur in freshwaters. Carnivorous, feeding largely on small fishes which they catch sideways in their beaks. Needlefishes tend to leap and skitter at the surface and some people have been injured when accidentally struck by them, particularly at night when the fishes are attracted by lights. Interest to Fisheries: Caught by casting or trolling surface or near-surface lures and in floating gill nets. Flesh excellent in flavor although some people have misgivings about eating it due to the presence of many small bones and the green color of the bones.

The family Belonidae belongs to the Class Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes) and the Order Beloniformes. It contains 10 genera and 34 species. It may be found in Marine, Brackish, and Freshwater environments and is primarily Marine. Some members of this family are used in the aquarium trade. Reproductively, most members of this family are nonguarders. The main mode of swimming of adult fish in this family is carangiform. Members of this family have been dated back to the middle Oligocene epoch of the Tertiary period. This family may be found from 65° n to 40° s and 122° w to 154° e. Etymology of this family name: Greek, belone = needle

Images:

Distribution

Range and Population

Western Atlantic Ocean

Habitat

Biome

Saltwater. Reef-associated.

Similar Species

Members of the genus Tylosurus:

There are approximately 47 species and subspecies in this genus: T. acus subsp. rafale · T. acus subsp. imperialis · T. acus · T. acus acus (Agujon) · T. acus imperiales · T. acus imperialis · T. acus melannotus · T. acus melanotus (Agujon Needlefish) · T. acus pacificus · T. acus rafale (Agujon Needlefish) · T. anastomella · T. appendiculatus · T. ccrocodilus · T. choram (Full Beak) · T. corocodilus · T. crocodila · T. crocodilis crocodilis · T. crocodilis crocodilus · T. crocodilus (Houndfish) · T. crocodilus crocodilus (Crocodile Longtom) · T. crocodilus fodiator (Hound Needlefish) · T. exilis · T. fudiator · T. gavialoides (Longtom) · T. gavialoides crocodilus · T. gigantea · T. gavialoides · T. imperialis melanotus · T. incisus · T. indica · T. indicus · T. inscisa · T. kreffti · T. macrolepis · T. marinus · T. melanata · T. melanotus melanotus · T. notatus · T. pacificus (Agujon Needlefish) · T. punctulata · T. punctulatus (Spotted Long-Tom) · T. raphidomus · T. robusta · T. gavialoides · T. timucu · T. gavialoides · T. gavialoides

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