Needlefish
Belonidae
A surface hunter armed with a beakful of needles.
Needlefishes are long, narrow hunters with both jaws stretched into a toothy beak. They stalk small prey near the surface and can leap when startled.
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From field guide to game table
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Quick dive
Creature passport
- Home
- The family lives in tropical and temperate seas worldwide, with some freshwater species.
- Favorite foods
- They grab small fishes, squid, and swimming crustaceans with sharp teeth.
- Size check
- Many 1-3 ft (30-90 cm); the largest approach 5 ft (1.5 m)
Tell-your-friends facts
Four wonderfully wild things
- 1
Needlefish have many fine teeth lining both elongated jaws.
- 2
Their dorsal and anal fins sit far back near the tail.
- 3
The bones of many needlefish have a harmless greenish color.
- 4
Young needlefish begin life with shorter jaws that lengthen as they grow.
Ocean superpower
Built to be amazing
A slim body can burst forward almost invisibly along the bright surface.
Junior scientist tip
What should I look for?
Look for a pencil-thin body and two equally long, toothy jaws.
Grown-up research links
We used trusted science organizations to check this profile.