Agujon Needlefish
(Tylosurus acus)

Western Atlantic: Massachusetts, USA to Brazil.

Eastern Atlantic: off Morocco and the Mediterranean.

Max length : 153 cm TL; common length : 90 cm SL; max. published weight: 3.7 kg

Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 20-27; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 20 - 24; Vertebrae: 90 - 95.

Diagnosis: body elongate; upper and lower jaws extremely long, forming a stout beak armed with very sharp teeth; gill rakers absent. Nostrils in depression before eyes (nasal pit); pelvic fins abdominal; 20-26 dorsal-fin rays; anal fin short, 9.7-11.7 times in body length; small, black lateral keel on either sides of caudal peduncle; caudal fin deeply forked.