Houndfish

The houndfish, scientifically known as Tylosurus crocodilus, is a prominent game fish within the Belonidae family. Distinguished as the largest member of its family, the houndfish can reach lengths of up to 1.5 meters (5 feet) and a weight of approximately 4.5 kilograms (10 pounds), and is commonly referred to as the crocodile needlefish.

Characteristics of Tylosurus crocodilus include a dorsal fin equipped with 21–25 soft rays, and an anal fin comprising 19–22 soft rays, with no presence of spines. The species is further identified by its 80–86 vertebrae. A distinctive feature of juvenile houndfish is their anteriorly pointed teeth, a characteristic that differentiates them from other species within the Tylosurus genus, whose teeth remain straight throughout their lifecycle. The houndfish also possesses a robust, cylindrical body structure and a comparatively shorter head. They exhibit a color pattern of dark blue on the dorsal surface and silvery-white on the sides, transitioning to a plain white ventral area. Notably, their caudal peduncle features a distinct keel, and their caudal fin is deeply forked. Juveniles display an elevated black lobe on the posterior section of their dorsal fins. The maximum documented length of a houndfish is 150 centimeters (4.9 feet), with the heaviest recorded specimen weighing 6.35 kilograms (14.0 pounds).

Geographically, houndfish inhabit the 🇮🇳 Indian and 🌊 Pacific Oceans, including the 🌊 Red Sea and regions stretching from the coast of 🇿🇦 South Africa to 🇵🇫 French Polynesia, reaching north to 🇯🇵 Japan and south to New South Wales, 🇦🇺 Australia. They are supplanted by the Mexican needlefish in the eastern Pacific. In the western Atlantic, houndfish are found from New Jersey to 🇧🇷 Brazil, and in the eastern Atlantic, from Fernando Poo and Liberia to Ascension Island, as well as near Guinea, 🇸🇳 Senegal, and Cape Verde. The species has also been reported in the eastern Mediterranean Sea, attributed to Lessepsian migration through the Suez Canal (🇪🇬 Egypt).

As a pelagic species, houndfish primarily inhabit areas above lagoons and seaward reefs, either solitarily or in small groups, where they predominantly consume smaller fish. Their reproductive strategy involves laying eggs that attach to objects in the water via tendrils present on the egg surface.

Houndfish are esteemed as game fish and are typically captured using artificial lights, akin to other needlefish species. Despite their culinary appeal, houndfish are often overlooked in the market due to the greenish hue of their flesh, akin to that of the flat needlefish. The International Game Fish Association (IGFA) world record for houndfish is 4.88 kilograms (10 lbs 12 oz), achieved in 2013 by angler Daniel John Leonard near Goulding Cay, 🇧🇸 Bahamas, utilizing a live pilchard for bait.

Houndfish pose a potential danger due to their substantial size and propensity to leap out of the water when startled or drawn by light sources, which can result in puncture injuries via their beaks. Notable incidents include the severe injury of a wundefined snorkeling in the 🇺🇸 Florida Keys in April 2000, an ocean-kayaker's injury in October 2010 leading to a collapsed lung, and the unfortunate fatality of a girl in the Mentawai Islands in 2024.