Red Sea Houndfish

Tylosurus choram, commonly known as the 🌊 Red Sea houndfish, is a needlefish species belonging to the family Belonidae. This marine species is characterized by its bluish hue, elongated slender body, and distinctly pointed beak with sharp teeth. It inhabits predominantly temperate and warm seas, occasionally extending its range into rivers, and is notably prevalent throughout the 🌊 Red Sea.

This tropical, pelagic-oceanic species typically reaches a maximum length of 120 cm, with a more common length of 70 cm. The dorsal fin contains 20 to 24 soft rays, while the anal fin comprises 19 to 22 soft rays.

Renowned for its agility, Tylosurus choram is a predatory fish that often swims in small groups near the water's surface. Similar to other needlefish, it is oviparous, depositing eggs that utilize filaments to adhere to submerged objects.

The distribution of Tylosurus choram includes the 🌊 Red Sea and coastal regions surrounding the Arabian Peninsula, extending to the 🌊 Gulf of Oman. Although it is predominantly found in these areas, there have been two recorded instances of its presence in the Mediterranean Sea near 🇮🇱 Israel, occurring forty years apart. Originally described by Eduard Rüppell in 1837 under the name Belone choram, the species was identified in the 🌊 Red Sea, with the specific epithet "choram" derived from the Arabic term for needlefish.