Latin Name: Strongylura marina
Species: Fish
Conservation Status: S4-5 - Secure
This species is very oddly shaped with an extremely skinny body. They have a greenish colored back with silvery sides and thin blueish stripes along each of their sides. Their elongated jaws are filled with many tiny teeth, and the lower jaw is slightly longer than the upper jaw. They get to about 2 feet in length, only weighing in at about 1.5 pounds.
Range & Habitat
They can be found along the entire east coast of the United States from Maine to Florida, as well as in parts of the Gulf including Texas. They have even been as far south as Brazil. They are most commonly found in coastal areas like estuaries, seagrass beds, mangrove forests, and bays. They like structure, places to hide, which is why they thrive in environments like reefs and other soft bottom areas.
Diet
This carnivorous species eats a wide variety of organisms. They eat things as small as zooplankton and as large as other fish. Their main selection for food as adults is other small fish like killifish and silversides. They patiently stalk their prey and then catch them sideways in their scissor-like jaws.
Life History
Their spawning season begins in May and continues through June. The females in this species only have one ovary, but can lay hundreds of thousands of eggs at a time. The females typically lay their eggs near objects in the water in shallow water environments, so they can attach to them. After the eggs hatch they remain in the estuaries, bays, or seagrass beds because they provide shelter, food, and protection from predators. As juveniles they look nothing like the adults but they soon grow into their long snout and jaw. They reach sexual maturity at about 1 years old, which can vary depending on temperature and food availability. They have a rather short lifespan, only living 3 to 4 years old.
Significance
This species is considered a mid-level predator so they provide a role as both predator and prey. They support the overall health of their habitats by maintaining small species populations and they themselves provide a food source for marine mammals, larger fish, and even sea birds. They are not a big commercial species as they are small so they don’t have enough meat to be considered worth it. However, they are prized as a recreational species. Anglers use them as bait fish for other species as well as try to catch them for their unique appearance.
Threats & How You Can Help
Just like every other marine species they are affected by climate change, pollution and habitat loss. Habitat loss is the main driving factor for issues with this species since they use structure to lay their eggs and it’s where their juveniles live and mature. The best way to help is to aid in conservation efforts to preserve coastal environments. Educate your peers and local communities on why it’s important to end coastal development.
Additional Resources
https://explorer.natureserve.org/Taxon/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.106117/Strongylura_marina
https://www.chesapeakebay.net/discover/field-guide/entry/atlantic-needlefish
https://biogeodb.stri.si.edu/caribbean/en/thefishes/species/3314