Atlantic needlefish

Like other needlefish, the Atlantic needlefish has a long, thin, needle-like beak formed by its upper and lower jaws. Both of its jaws are lined with tiny, sharp teeth. This needlefish differs from other needlefish in that its caudal, or tail, fin is bluish and the lower half of its beak is pale.

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Actinopterygii

Order: Beloniformes

Family: Belonidae

Genus: Strongylura

Species: Marina

The life of an Atlantic needlefish begins in the late spring or early summer. After a five week incubation, or growth, period, a young Atlantic needlefish emerges from its egg. As it begins to swim through the water, it moves farther and farther away from the seaweed in which its egg was stuck. Atlantic needlefish eggs have many long, sticky filaments, or threads, which help them stick to seaweed and other drifting materials.

The Atlantic needlefish is covered with tiny bluish scales on its back, and paler white scales on its belly. Like other needlefish, it has a long, thin beak, or snout, which projects from the rest of its body like a sword. The back of the Atlantic needlefish is extremely flat from the tip of its beak to the base of its dorsal, or back, fin. The caudal, or tail, fin of the Atlantic needlefish is steel blue. The Atlantic needlefish generally grows to a length of about two feet (sixty centimeters).

The Atlantic needlefish's dorsal and anal, or back and belly fins, help keep it balanced in the water. Its caudal fin propels the fish forward. The caudal fin moves from side to side, like a ship's propeller, moving the fish through the water. The Atlantic needlefish also has a pair of pectoral, or side, fins. One of these fins is located behind the Atlantic needlefish's gills on each side of its body. This pair of fins works together with the Atlantic needlefish's pair of pelvic fins to paddle the fish through the water.

Like other fish, the Atlantic needlefish needs oxygen to survive. Unlike humans, who have lungs and can process oxygen from the air, the Atlantic needlefish must find the oxygen it needs from the water in which it lives. The Atlantic needlefish takes water into its mouth, uses the oxygen it needs, and filters the waste chemicals out through the gills on the sides of its head.

The Atlantic needlefish inhabits bays, coastal waters, and estuaries of the western Atlantic Ocean from Maine and the Gulf of Mexico to Brazil. This quick swimmer is often seen skipping along the surface of the water.

The Atlantic needlefish is a carnivorous, or meat-eating, fish. Its diet includes a variety of surface-dwelling fish and crustaceans. The Atlantic needlefish is often seen in large shoals, or schools, feeding near the water's surface. The slim elongated shape of their bodies allows them to launch quickly through the water for short bursts to chase their prey. Unsuspecting fish are often speared by the pointed jaws of the Atlantic needlefish. Although the Atlantic needlefish has many tiny, sharp teeth, it does not chew its food, but instead swallows it whole. The Atlantic needlefish is often preyed upon by larger, aquatic, or water-living, sea creatures.

The life span of Atlantic needlefish is approximately three to five years in the wild and up to eight years in captivity. Their conservation status is listed as least concern.

Bibliography

Jonna, R. “Actinopterygii.” Animal Diversity Web, 2021, www.animaldiversity.org/accounts/Actinopterygii/. Accessed 30 Mar. 2024.

Kerschen, Lois. “Needlefish.” A-Z Animals, 6 Apr. 2023, www.a-z-animals.com/animals/needlefish/. Accessed 30 Mar. 2024.“Species: Strongylura Marina, Atlantic Needlefish.” Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, www.biogeodb.stri.si.edu/caribbean/en/thefishes/species/3314. Accessed 30 Mar. 2024.