Needlefish © Shedd Aquarium
With a long, narrow jaw and an elongated body, the common name "Needlefish" fits very well. They also have an abundance of very sharp teeth. They tend to inhabit marine environments in the tropics, but also can be found in temperate waters and have even adapted to freshwater and brackish environments.
For the most part, needlefish stay in shallow waters; otherwise they stay near the surface. Getting up to 40cm in length, they feed on smaller fish, crustaceans, cephalopods, and plankton. When hunting, they catch their prey using a sideways sweep of their head. Freshwater needlefish may also find insects, tadpoles and frogs as their popular prey.
- Andrews University. "Organisms / Vertebrates / Atlantic Needlefish."
- http://www.biol.andrews.edu/everglades/organisms/Vertebrates/Fish/Atlantic%20Needlefish/atlantic_needlefish_index.html
- FishBase. "Species Summary: Strongylura marina Atlantic needlefish.
- http://www.fishbase.org/Summary/SpeciesSummary.php?id=974
