Platybelone argalus argalus (Lesueur, 1821)
Keeltail needlefish
Platybelone argalus argalus
photo by FAO

 Family:  Belonidae (Needlefishes)
 Max. size:  50 cm TL (male/unsexed)
 Environment:  reef-associated; depth range - 0 m
 Distribution:  Western Atlantic: North Carolina, USA to Brazil (Ref. 7251), including the Bahamas, Gulf of Mexico, and Caribbean Sea.
 Diagnosis:  Dorsal soft rays (total): 12-15; Anal soft rays: 17-20. Gill rakers present; caudal peduncle with a lateral keel, the lateral line passing ventral to it.
 Biology:  Occurs offshore; particularly abundant around islands (Ref. 5217); schools in sheltered parts of the reef (Ref. 48635). Feeds mainly on small fishes. Oviparous (Ref. 205). Eggs may be found attached to objects in the water by tendrils on the egg's surface (Ref. 205).
 IUCN Red List Status:   (Ref. 96402)
 Threat to humans:  harmless
 Country info:   
 

 Entered by: Froese, Rainer - 17.10.90
 Modified by: Bailly, Nicolas - 21.04.11
 Checked by: Froese, Rainer - 24.02.94

Source and more info: www.fishbase.org. For personal, classroom, and other internal use only. Not for publication.


Page created by Jen, 05.08.02, php script by kbanasihan 06/09/2010 ,  last modified by dsantos, 20/08/10