Agujon Needlefish

Anterior part of dorsal fin with a low lobe, contained 10.5-13.3 times in body length; a distinct black lateral keel on caudal peduncle; caudal fin deeply forked. Juveniles have an elevated black lobe in the posterior part of the dorsal fin (Ref. 9682). Longer jaws with more numerous teeth and narrower caudal lobes than T. crocodilus (Ref. 37816).

Hurleytrematoides Infestation 13. Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.)

Lernanthropus Infestation 3. Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.)

Caligodes Infestation. Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.)

Caligus Infestation 5. Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.)

Colobomatus Disease. Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.)

Oceanodromous. Migrating within oceans typically between spawning and different feeding areas, as tunas do. Migrations should be cyclical and predictable and cover more than 100 km.

Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 24 - 27; Analspines: 0; Analsoft rays: 22 - 24; Vertebrae: 90 - 95

Found in offshore and coastal waters. Feeds mainly on small fishes. Also in Ref. 9137, 13446.

Found in offshore and coastal waters. Feeds mainly on small fishes. Marketed mostly fresh. The flesh is of good quality (Ref. 9682). Oviparous (Ref. 205). Eggs may be found attached to objects in the water by tendrils on the egg's surface (Ref. 205).

fisheries: commercial

分布於印度-太平洋區，東起非洲東部，西至中、南太平洋，北至日本，南至澳洲。臺灣沿岸均可見。

食用魚，但產量不多，較不具經濟價值，一般以煎食利用。

體幾乎呈圓柱形，截面為圓形或橢圓形；頭蓋骨背側之中央溝發育不良。尾柄有側隆起稜，幾成四方形。上頜在其基部強度向上彎曲，致兩頜間產生縫隙；下頜之末端時有斧狀突出物；主上頜骨之下緣於嘴角處完全被眼前骨所腹蓋。鱗細小，側線沿腹緣縱走，達尾鰭基底，在尾柄處向體中央上昇，並形成隆起稜。無鰓耙。背鰭與臀鰭對在，兩者前方鰭條延長，且背鰭之後方鰭條亦較延長，背鰭軟條數24-27，臀鰭軟條數22-24；腹鰭基底位於眼前緣與尾鰭基底間距中央之略前方；尾鰭深開叉，其下葉較延長。體背藍綠色，體側銀白色。體側無橫帶。本種共分5亞種(Collette et Parin, 1970)，包括/T. acus acus/ (Lacepède, 1803)分布於大西洋西部、/T. a. imperialis/ (Rafinesque, 1810)分布於地中海、/T. a. melanotus/ (Bleeker, 1850)分布於印度-西太平洋、 /T. a. pacific/ (Steindachner, 1874)分布於東太平洋及 /T. a. rafale/ Collette et Parin, 1970分布於幾內亞灣。

大洋性魚類，通常在近海巡游，偶會靠近岸邊。性兇猛，以小魚為主食，尤其是鯡類。