Animalia Life

Scomberesox saurus saurus
FAMILY
Scomberesocidae
TAXONOMY
Esox saurus Walbaum, 1792, Cornwall and British seas.
OTHER COMMON NAMES
English: Atlantic needlefish; French: Aiguille de mer; German: Echsenhecht; Spanish: Alcrique.
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS
Maximum length 19.7 in (50 cm). Elongate and needlefish-like, but with toothless jaws and finlets following the dorsal and anal fins.
DISTRIBUTION
Mediterranean, North Atlantic, rarely Iceland, Norway, Denmark.
HABITAT
Surface waters of the open ocean.
BEHAVIOR
Schooling fishes that travel long distances through the open ocean. Spawn in warmer waters, migrate to plankton-rich temperate waters to feed. Leap out of the water when pursued by predators.
FEEDING ECOLOGY AND DIET
Zooplankton and fish larvae.
REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY
External fertilization, eggs scattered in open water.
CONSERVATION STATUS
Not threatened.
SIGNIFICANCE TO HUMANS
Said to have delicious flesh, but not abundant enough to support a large fishery.

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