Needlefishes
Needlefishes, houndfishes, long-toms and garfishes are the common names for the members of the Belonidae family. The family members are characterized by their elongated body with both upper and lower jaws extended into long beaks filled with sharp teeth.
Members of the Belonidae are found in the tropical to temperate waters worldwide. There are 10 genera and 47 species worldwide. They live at the surface and are protectively coloured green or blue on the back and silvery white on the sides and ventrally. They are prone to leap and skitter at the surface. They are known to be carnivorous, feeding largely on small fishes which they catch sideways in their beaks. They can be caught by casting or trolling surface or near-surface lures.
Members of the Belonidae are found in the tropical to temperate waters worldwide. There are 10 genera and 47 species worldwide. They live at the surface and are protectively coloured green or blue on the back and silvery white on the sides and ventrally. They are prone to leap and skitter at the surface. They are known to be carnivorous, feeding largely on small fishes which they catch sideways in their beaks. They can be caught by casting or trolling surface or near-surface lures.
Scientific Name: Ablennes hians (Valenciennes, 1846)
English Name: Flat Needlefish
Chinese Name | 鱼类中文名: 尖嘴鱼 (Jiān zuǐ yú), 扁鹤鱵 (Biǎn hèzhēn)
Malay Name | Nama Melayu Malaysia: Ikan Todak, Tenggiri Singapore, Todak Nipis
Thai Name | ชื่อสามัญภาษาไทย: ปลากระทุงเหวข้างแบน (Plāk ra thung h̄ew k̄ĥāng bæn), ปลากระทุงเหวบั้ง (Plāk ra thung h̄ew bậng)
Local Hokkien: Teik Long Song, Hai Chiam
Main Identification Features: Body strongly compressed. About 12 to 14 distinct black bars posteriorly on side. Pectoral fin falcate. Dorsal and anal fins with high falcate lobes. Caudal peduncle without lateral keels.
Size: Maximum total length 140 cm.
Habitat and Ecology: Epipelagic, just under the surface of the water. Often found in groups and sometimes in large schools. Carnivorous, feeding mainly on small fishes.
Scientific Name: Strongylura strongylura (vanHasselt, 1823)
English Name: Spottail Needlefish
Chinese Name: 斑尾柱颌针鱼 (Bānwěi zhù gé zhēn yú), 尖嘴鱼 (Jiān zuǐ yú)
Malay Name | Nama Melayu Malaysia: Ikan Todak, Jolong-jolong, Loncong, Cencodak, Todak Ekor Bintik, Todak Belang
Thai Name | ชื่อสามัญภาษาไทย: ปลากะทุงเหวหูจุด (Plā ka thung h̄ew h̄ū cud), ปลากระทุงควาย (Plāk ra thung khwāy)
Local Hokkien: Hai Chiam
Main Identification Features: Body rounded in cross-section. Bases of dorsal and anal fins scaled. Caudal fin rounded or truncate with a prominent round black spot near its base. Caudal peduncle without lateral keels.
Size: Maximum standard length 49 cm, commonly 22 cm.
Habitat and Ecology: Coastal, estuarine and freshwater, just under the surface of the water. Often found in groups. Carnivorous, feeding mainly on small fishes, especially clupeoids.
Scientific Name: Tylosurus acus melanotus (Bleeker, 1850)
English Name: Keel-jawed Needlefish
Chinese Name | 鱼类中文名: 黑背圓頜針魚 (Hēi bèi yuán gé zhēn yú), 尖嘴鱼 (Jiān zuǐ yú)
Malay Name | Nama Melayu Malaysia: Ikan Todak, Jolong-jolong, Todak Banang
Thai Name | ชื่อสามัญภาษาไทย: ปลากระทุงเหว (Plāk ra thung h̄ew)
Local Hokkien: Teik Long Song, Hai Chiam
Main Identification Features: Body rounded in cross-section. Dorsal and anal fins with low lobes. Caudal peduncle with a distinct black lateral keel. Upper jaw curved and forming a gap between jaws when mouth closed. Sometimes lower jaw with bony appendage.
Size: Maximum total length 110 cm, commonly 90 cm.
Habitat and Ecology: Coastal and offshore waters, just under the surface of the water. Often found in groups. Carnivorous, feeding mainly on fishes.
Scientific Name: Tylosurus crocodilus (Péron & Lesueur, 1821)
English Name: Hound Needlefish
Chinese Name | 鱼类中文名: 鳄叉尾鹤鱵 (È chā wěi hè zhēn), 尖嘴鱼 (Jiān zuǐ yú)
Malay Name | Nama Melayu Malaysia: Ikan Todak, Todak Buaya
Thai Name | ชื่อสามัญภาษาไทย: ปลากระทุงเหวใหญ่ (Plāk ra thung h̄ew yai), ปลากระทุงเหวทะเล (Plāk ra thung h̄ewthale), เต๊กเล้งกลม (Ték lêng klm)
Local Hokkien: Teik Long Song, Hai Chiam
Main Identification Features: Body rounded in cross-section. Beak stout. Dorsal and anal fins with low lobes. Dorsal fin origin about equal with or slightly in front to anal fin origin. Caudal peduncle with a distinct black lateral keel. No gap between jaws when mouth closed.
Size: Maximum total length 150 cm, commonly 100 cm.
Habitat and Ecology: Mostly coastal waters, just under the surface of the water. Solitary or in small groups. Carnivorous, feeding mainly on fishes.
Scientific Name: Tylosurus punctulatus (Günther, 1872)
Common Name: Spotted Long-tom, Spongyjawed Needlefish
Chinese Name | 鱼类中文名: 尖嘴鱼 (Jiān zuǐ yú)
Malay Name | Nama Melayu Malaysia: Ikan Todak, Banang, Jolong
Thai Name | ชื่อสามัญภาษาไทย: ปลากระทุงเหว (Plāk ra thung h̄ew)
Local Hokkien: Teik Long Song, Hai Chiam
Main Identification Features: Caudal fin distinctly forked, with lower lobe longer than upper lobe. Narrow raised dark lateral keel on each side of caudal peduncle. Lower jaw slightly curved upward anteriorly, ending in a thick fleshy formation.
Size: Maximum total length 60 cm.
Habitat and Ecology: Mostly coastal waters, just under the surface of the water. Carnivorous, feeding mainly on fishes.
English Name: Flat Needlefish
Chinese Name | 鱼类中文名: 尖嘴鱼 (Jiān zuǐ yú), 扁鹤鱵 (Biǎn hèzhēn)
Malay Name | Nama Melayu Malaysia: Ikan Todak, Tenggiri Singapore, Todak Nipis
Thai Name | ชื่อสามัญภาษาไทย: ปลากระทุงเหวข้างแบน (Plāk ra thung h̄ew k̄ĥāng bæn), ปลากระทุงเหวบั้ง (Plāk ra thung h̄ew bậng)
Local Hokkien: Teik Long Song, Hai Chiam
Main Identification Features: Body strongly compressed. About 12 to 14 distinct black bars posteriorly on side. Pectoral fin falcate. Dorsal and anal fins with high falcate lobes. Caudal peduncle without lateral keels.
Size: Maximum total length 140 cm.
Habitat and Ecology: Epipelagic, just under the surface of the water. Often found in groups and sometimes in large schools. Carnivorous, feeding mainly on small fishes.
Scientific Name: Strongylura strongylura (vanHasselt, 1823)
English Name: Spottail Needlefish
Chinese Name: 斑尾柱颌针鱼 (Bānwěi zhù gé zhēn yú), 尖嘴鱼 (Jiān zuǐ yú)
Malay Name | Nama Melayu Malaysia: Ikan Todak, Jolong-jolong, Loncong, Cencodak, Todak Ekor Bintik, Todak Belang
Thai Name | ชื่อสามัญภาษาไทย: ปลากะทุงเหวหูจุด (Plā ka thung h̄ew h̄ū cud), ปลากระทุงควาย (Plāk ra thung khwāy)
Local Hokkien: Hai Chiam
Main Identification Features: Body rounded in cross-section. Bases of dorsal and anal fins scaled. Caudal fin rounded or truncate with a prominent round black spot near its base. Caudal peduncle without lateral keels.
Size: Maximum standard length 49 cm, commonly 22 cm.
Habitat and Ecology: Coastal, estuarine and freshwater, just under the surface of the water. Often found in groups. Carnivorous, feeding mainly on small fishes, especially clupeoids.
Scientific Name: Tylosurus acus melanotus (Bleeker, 1850)
English Name: Keel-jawed Needlefish
Chinese Name | 鱼类中文名: 黑背圓頜針魚 (Hēi bèi yuán gé zhēn yú), 尖嘴鱼 (Jiān zuǐ yú)
Malay Name | Nama Melayu Malaysia: Ikan Todak, Jolong-jolong, Todak Banang
Thai Name | ชื่อสามัญภาษาไทย: ปลากระทุงเหว (Plāk ra thung h̄ew)
Local Hokkien: Teik Long Song, Hai Chiam
Main Identification Features: Body rounded in cross-section. Dorsal and anal fins with low lobes. Caudal peduncle with a distinct black lateral keel. Upper jaw curved and forming a gap between jaws when mouth closed. Sometimes lower jaw with bony appendage.
Size: Maximum total length 110 cm, commonly 90 cm.
Habitat and Ecology: Coastal and offshore waters, just under the surface of the water. Often found in groups. Carnivorous, feeding mainly on fishes.
Scientific Name: Tylosurus crocodilus (Péron & Lesueur, 1821)
English Name: Hound Needlefish
Chinese Name | 鱼类中文名: 鳄叉尾鹤鱵 (È chā wěi hè zhēn), 尖嘴鱼 (Jiān zuǐ yú)
Malay Name | Nama Melayu Malaysia: Ikan Todak, Todak Buaya
Thai Name | ชื่อสามัญภาษาไทย: ปลากระทุงเหวใหญ่ (Plāk ra thung h̄ew yai), ปลากระทุงเหวทะเล (Plāk ra thung h̄ewthale), เต๊กเล้งกลม (Ték lêng klm)
Local Hokkien: Teik Long Song, Hai Chiam
Main Identification Features: Body rounded in cross-section. Beak stout. Dorsal and anal fins with low lobes. Dorsal fin origin about equal with or slightly in front to anal fin origin. Caudal peduncle with a distinct black lateral keel. No gap between jaws when mouth closed.
Size: Maximum total length 150 cm, commonly 100 cm.
Habitat and Ecology: Mostly coastal waters, just under the surface of the water. Solitary or in small groups. Carnivorous, feeding mainly on fishes.
Scientific Name: Tylosurus punctulatus (Günther, 1872)
Common Name: Spotted Long-tom, Spongyjawed Needlefish
Chinese Name | 鱼类中文名: 尖嘴鱼 (Jiān zuǐ yú)
Malay Name | Nama Melayu Malaysia: Ikan Todak, Banang, Jolong
Thai Name | ชื่อสามัญภาษาไทย: ปลากระทุงเหว (Plāk ra thung h̄ew)
Local Hokkien: Teik Long Song, Hai Chiam
Main Identification Features: Caudal fin distinctly forked, with lower lobe longer than upper lobe. Narrow raised dark lateral keel on each side of caudal peduncle. Lower jaw slightly curved upward anteriorly, ending in a thick fleshy formation.
Size: Maximum total length 60 cm.
Habitat and Ecology: Mostly coastal waters, just under the surface of the water. Carnivorous, feeding mainly on fishes.
