| Strongylura marina | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Beloniformes |
| Family: | Belonidae |
| Genus: | Strongylura |
| Species: | S. marina |
| Binomial name | |
| Strongylura marina (Walbaum, 1792) |
|
Strongylura marina, also called the Atlantic needlefish is a common top water resident of marinas and other areas with minimal current this fish is in the family Belonidae. It's extremely long jaws and body set this fish apart from other predators. They are found from Maine to Brazil and have been known to venture into freshwater for short periods.
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Strongylura marina is found along Western Atlantic coastal waters from Maine to southern Brazil, including areas along the coast of the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean.[1][2] Atlantic needlefish are not restricted to ocean waters; they can be found in various estuaries and are capable of ascending well upstream into freshwater. S. marina is found in shallow waters throughout the Chesapeake Bay.[3] In Texas, S. marina is known to inhabit the following drainage units: Sabine Lake (including minor coastal drainages west to Galveston Bay), Galveston Bay (including minor coastal drainages west to mouth of Brazos River), Brazos River, Colorado River, San Antonio Bay (including minor coastal drainages west of mouth of Colorado River to mouth of Nueces River), Nueces River.[4] S. marina has also been introduced and now inhabits parts of the Tennessee River drainage throughout Alabama and Tennessee.[5]
As juveniles, the diet of S. marina consists of 70% shrimp, mysids and amphipods and 30% fish while adults are exclusively piscivorous.[6][7] The predators of S. marina include larger piscivorous fish such as the Atlantic tarpon, Megalops atlanticus.[8] There are also less common predators that include S. marina in their diet such as the common bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) and juvenile lemon sharks (Negaprion brevirostris).[9] Since they are surface swimmers, S. marina are preyed upon by some birds. The competitors of S. marina include similar sized piscivorous fish species such as bonefish. Although the maximum salinity of Strongylura marina is 36.9 ppt,[8] they are able to adapt to a wide range of salinities, regularly venturing into fresh water.[2]
Spawning typically occurs in late spring and summer. In Texas, near ripe females have been reported in February.[8] Females lay eggs that have many long filamentous tendrils which attach to floating vegetation or other submerged objects and organisms. S. marina reaches reproductive maturity two years after being born. Spawning activity occurs in shallow inshore habitats with submerged algal masses.[1]
S. marina depends on submerged vegetation for breeding and shelter. In the Gulf of Mexico, the eggs of S. marina attach to sargassum seaweed. S. marina is not currently listed as endangered and is not a major commercial or gamefish species. Needlefish spend their lives breeding and swimming near the surface of the water.[10]