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Strongylura scapularis — Details

Shoulderspot Needlefish learn more about names for this taxon

Overview

Comprehensive Description

Description

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Common names: needlefish (English), agujón (Espanol)

Strongylura scapularis Jordan & Gilbert, 1881

Shoulderspot needlefish, Yellowfin needlefish

Elongate and slender, rounded in cross section; upper and lower jaws greatly elongated, with sharp teeth; no gill rakers; dorsal rays 13-15; anal rays 15-17; pectoral rays 9-11 (usually 10); tail base without lateral keels and not strongly depressed; tail slightly concave; about 172-226 scales before dorsal fin.

Brownish or olive on back, silvery on sides; wide grey stripe along flank; black color at junction of cheek and operculum extends down to lower edge of eye; bone before eye intensely pigmented; scales and spines never green.

Size: grows to at least 40 cm.

Habitat: coastal seas, entering estuaries and river mouths.

Depth: 0-10 m?

El Salvador to Peru.

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Biology

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Common in coastal waters and lagoons with mangroves (Ref. 9279). Also found near the surface of offshore waters (Ref. 11035). Feeds mainly on small fishes (Ref. 9279). Oviparous (Ref. 205). Eggs may be found attached to objects in the water by tendrils on the egg's surface (Ref. 205). Usually caught with the help of artificial lights (Ref. 9279).

Collette, B.B. 1995 Belonidae. Agujones, maraos. p. 919-926. In W. Fischer, F. Krupp, W. Schneider, C. Sommer, K.E. Carpenter and V. Niem (eds.) Guia FAO para Identification de Especies para lo Fines de la Pesca. Pacifico Centro-Oriental. 3 Vols. FAO, Rome. (Ref. 9279) http://www.fishbase.org/references/FBRefSummary.php?id=9279&speccode=13565

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Distribution

Range Description

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This species is endemic to the Eastern Pacific region, and is found from El Salvador to Peru.

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Depth

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Depth Range (m): 0 (G) - 10 (G)

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Zoogeography

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See Map (including site records) of Distribution in the Tropical Eastern Pacific

Global Endemism: All species, East Pacific endemic, Tropical Eastern Pacific (TEP) endemic

Regional Endemism: All species, TEP endemic, Continental TEP endemic, Panamic province endemic, Continent, Continent only

Residency: Resident

Climate Zone: Equatorial (Costa Rica to Ecuador + Galapagos, Clipperton, Cocos, Malpelo), South Temperate (Peruvian Province )

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Eastern Pacific: El Salvador to Peru.

Collette, B.B. 1995 Belonidae. Agujones, maraos. p. 919-926. In W. Fischer, F. Krupp, W. Schneider, C. Sommer, K.E. Carpenter and V. Niem (eds.) Guia FAO para Identification de Especies para lo Fines de la Pesca. Pacifico Centro-Oriental. 3 Vols. FAO, Rome. (Ref. 9279) http://www.fishbase.org/references/FBRefSummary.php?id=9279&speccode=13565

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Physical Description

Morphology

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Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 12 - 15; Analspines: 0; Analsoft rays: 14 - 18; Vertebrae: 61 - 66

Collette, B.B. 1995 Belonidae. Agujones, maraos. p. 919-926. In W. Fischer, F. Krupp, W. Schneider, C. Sommer, K.E. Carpenter and V. Niem (eds.) Guia FAO para Identification de Especies para lo Fines de la Pesca. Pacifico Centro-Oriental. 3 Vols. FAO, Rome. (Ref. 9279) http://www.fishbase.org/references/FBRefSummary.php?id=9279&speccode=13565

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Size

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Length max (cm): 40.0 (S)

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Size

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Maximum size: 700 mm TL

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Max. size

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38.0 cm SL (male/unsexed; (Ref. 9279))

Collette, B.B. 1995 Belonidae. Agujones, maraos. p. 919-926. In W. Fischer, F. Krupp, W. Schneider, C. Sommer, K.E. Carpenter and V. Niem (eds.) Guia FAO para Identification de Especies para lo Fines de la Pesca. Pacifico Centro-Oriental. 3 Vols. FAO, Rome. (Ref. 9279) http://www.fishbase.org/references/FBRefSummary.php?id=9279&speccode=13565

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Diagnostic Description

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Caudal fin emarginate (Ref. 9279).

Collette, B.B. 1995 Belonidae. Agujones, maraos. p. 919-926. In W. Fischer, F. Krupp, W. Schneider, C. Sommer, K.E. Carpenter and V. Niem (eds.) Guia FAO para Identification de Especies para lo Fines de la Pesca. Pacifico Centro-Oriental. 3 Vols. FAO, Rome. (Ref. 9279) http://www.fishbase.org/references/FBRefSummary.php?id=9279&speccode=13565

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Type Information

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Holotype for Strongylura scapularis
Collection: Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of Natural History, Department of Vertebrate Zoology, Division of Fishes
Collector(s): P. Simons
Locality: Guayaquil, Equador, Guayas Province, Ecuador, Pacific

Holotype: Starks, E. C. 1906. Proceedings of the United States National Museum. 30 (1468): 781-782, fig. 6.

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Type for Strongylura scapularis
Collection: Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of Natural History, Department of Vertebrate Zoology, Division of Fishes
Collector(s): C. Gilbert
Locality: Panama, Pacific

Type: Jordan, D. S. & Gilbert, C. H. 1882. Bulletin of the United States Fish Commission. 1 (for 1881): 307-308.

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Type for Strongylura scapularis
Collection: Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of Natural History, Department of Vertebrate Zoology, Division of Fishes
Collector(s): C. Gilbert
Locality: Panama, Pacific

Type: Jordan, D. S. & Gilbert, C. H. 1882. Bulletin of the United States Fish Commission. 1 (for 1881): 307-308.

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Ecology

Habitat

Habitat and Ecology

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Habitat and Ecology

This pelagic species is found in coastal waters and lagoons with mangroves (Collette, 1995), and can enter estuaries and river mouths. It feeds mainly on small fishes (Collette, 1995).

Systems

Marine

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Depth range based on 11 specimens in 1 taxon.

Environmental ranges
Depth range (m): 1 - 2

Graphical representation

Depth range (m): 1 - 2

Note: this information has not been validated. Check this *note*. Your feedback is most welcome.

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Habitat

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Salinity: Marine, Brackish, Freshwater

Inshore/Offshore: Inshore, Inshore Only

Water Column Position: Surface, Water column only

Habitat: Estuary, Freshwater, Water column

FishBase Habitat: Pelagic

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Environment

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pelagic-oceanic; marine

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Trophic Strategy

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Common in coastal waters and lagoons with mangroves. Also found near the surface of offshore waters (Ref. 11035). Feeds mainly on small fishes.

Collette, B.B. 1995 Belonidae. Agujones, maraos. p. 919-926. In W. Fischer, F. Krupp, W. Schneider, C. Sommer, K.E. Carpenter and V. Niem (eds.) Guia FAO para Identification de Especies para lo Fines de la Pesca. Pacifico Centro-Oriental. 3 Vols. FAO, Rome. (Ref. 9279) http://www.fishbase.org/references/FBRefSummary.php?id=9279&speccode=13565

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Feeding

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Feeding Group: Carnivore

Diet: Pelagic crustacea, bony fishes

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Life History and Behavior

Reproduction

Reproduction

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Egg Type: Benthic, Pelagic larva

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Conservation

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List Assessment

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Red List Category

LC

Least Concern

Red List Criteria

Version

3.1

Year Assessed

2010

Assessor/s

Collette, B.

Reviewer/s

Carpenter, K., Polidoro, B., Livingstone, S. (Global Marine Species Assessment Team)

Contributor/s

Justification

This species is widespread in the Eastern Pacific region. No major threats to this species are known, and there is no current indication of population decline. It is listed as Least Concern.

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Conservation status

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IUCN Red List: Not evaluated / Listed

CITES: Not listed

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Trends

Population

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Population

No population information is available for this species, although it is thought to be less common than Strongylura exilis.

Population Trend

Unknown

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Threats

Threats

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Major Threats

There are no major threats known for this species.

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Least Concern (LC)

IUCN 2006 2006 IUCN red list of threatened species. www.iucnredlist.org. Downloaded July 2006. http://www.fishbase.org/references/FBRefSummary.php?id=57073

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Management

Conservation Actions

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Conservation Actions

There are no known conservation measures for this species. However, this species distribution falls into a number of Marine Protected Areas in the Eastern Tropical Pacific region (WDPA 2006).

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Relevance to Humans and Ecosystems

Benefits

Importance

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fisheries: minor commercial

Collette, B.B. 1995 Belonidae. Agujones, maraos. p. 919-926. In W. Fischer, F. Krupp, W. Schneider, C. Sommer, K.E. Carpenter and V. Niem (eds.) Guia FAO para Identification de Especies para lo Fines de la Pesca. Pacifico Centro-Oriental. 3 Vols. FAO, Rome. (Ref. 9279) http://www.fishbase.org/references/FBRefSummary.php?id=9279&speccode=13565

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