NEEDLEFISH
BELONIDAE
Houndfish
Tylosurus crocodilus
    Ecological Descriptors
Habitat Size Diet Behaviour Sex 
EPel to 1.5m Pisc I/ Sh F
 
 
Description:
A highly reflective, silvery fish with a thin, elongate body and long, narrow, pointed jaws and a forked tail. Upper and lower jaws of nearly equal length, about one and a half times the length of the head. May have a darkish bar, or bars on the gill cover. Base of the
tail with a black lateral keel on each side. Lower lobe of the tail larger than the upper one

Ecology
This epipelagic species is common in coastal waters either as individuals or small groups and occurs offshore occasionally. It is often observed at the surface near jetties, piers, and reefs. It feeds mainly on small fish. Depth range 0 to 13 m.

Life Cycle
Reproduction is via external fertilization. Eggs are connected to objects present in the water, by tendrils on the surface of the eggs. A female Houndfish may produce 30,000 eggs.
Houndfish
Synonyms:
Hound Needlefish
Houndfish
(C) JE RANDALL
63