Family BELONIDAE

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Introduction

In a review of Belonidae, Collette et al. (1984) recognised 32 species in 10 genera worldwide. Currently, however, 47 species in 10 genera are recognised (Nelson et al. 2016). Eleven species in four genera occur in Australian waters.

Longtoms or needlefishes occur in the surface waters of all tropical and temperate oceans, both inshore and offshore, as well as in estuaries and fresh water. These voracious predators feed mostly on fishes. The most distinctive feature is the presence of greatly elongate jaws with sharp teeth; juveniles go through a 'halfbeak' stage with a short upper jaw. Australian longtoms are of minor commercial importance. Maximum size for the family is about 1.8 m.

The Belonidae were reviewed on a worldwide basis by Mees (1962). Many of his conclusions, however, were not accepted by other workers (see Collette & Berry 1965). Parin (1967) reviewed the Indo-Pacific species and Collette & Parin (1970) revised the eastern Atlantic species. Collette (1999) treated tropical Australian species. Loverjoy (2000) discussed relationships within the family based on genetic studies and suggested that some genera as currently recognised might not be monophyletic.

 

General References

Collette, B.B. 1999. Family Belonidae. pp. 2151-2161 in Carpenter, K.E. & Niem, T.H. (eds). The Living Marine Resources of the Western Central Pacific. FAO Species Identification Guide for Fisheries Purposes. Rome : FAO Vol. 4 pp. 2069-2790.

Collette, B.B., McGowen, G.E., Parin, N.V. & Mito, S. 1984. Beloniformes: development and relationships. pp. 335-354 figs 172-185 in Moser, H.G. et al. (eds). Ontogeny and Systematics of Fishes. American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists. Special Publication 1: 1-760

Collette, B.B. & Berry, F.H. 1965. Recent studies on the needlefishes (Belonidae) : an evaluation. Copeia 1965(3): 386-392

Collette, B.B. & Parin, N.V. 1970. Needlefishes (Belonidae) of the eastern Atlantic Ocean. Atlantide Report 11: 7-60 figs 1-13

Eschmeyer, W.N. & Fong, J.D. 2012. Species of Fishes by family/subfamily. Catalog of Fishes. Online version updated 15 March 2012. http://research.calacademy.org/research/ichthyology/catalog/SpeciesByFamily.asp

Lovejoy, N.R. 2000. Reinterpreting recapitulation: systematics of needlefishes and their allies (Teleostei: Beloniformes). Evolution 54(4): 1349–1362

Lovejoy, N.R. & Collette, B.B. 2001. Phylogenetic relationships of New World needlefishes (Teleostei: Belonidae) and the biogeography of transitions between marine and freshwater habitats. Copeia 2001(2): 324-338.

Mees, G.F. 1962. A preliminary revision of the Belonidae. Zoologische Verhandelingen (Leiden) 54: 1-96 figs 1-11 pl. 1

Nelson, J.S. 2006. Fishes of the World. Hoboken, New Jersey : John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 601 pp.

Nelson, J.S., Grande, T.C. & Wilson, M.V.H. 2016. Fishes of the World. Hoboken, New Jersey : John Wiley & Sons 5, 752 pp.

Parin, N.V. 1967. Review of marine belonids of the western Pacific and Indian Oceans. Trudy Instituta Okeanologii. Akademiya Nauk SSSR. Moskva 84: 3-83 figs 1-25 [in Russian]

 

Common Name References

Allen, G.R., Midgley, S.H. & Allen, M. 2002. Field Guide to the Freshwater Fishes of Australia. Perth : Western Australian Museum 394 pp. [124] (Longtoms, Needlefishes)

Collette, B.B. 1999. Family Belonidae. pp. 2151-2161 in Carpenter, K.E. & Niem, T.H. (eds). The Living Marine Resources of the Western Central Pacific. FAO Species Identification Guide for Fisheries Purposes. Rome : FAO Vol. 4 pp. 2069-2790. [2151] (FAO) (Needlefishes)

Whitley, G.P. 1948. A list of the fishes of Western Australia. Western Australia Fish Department. Fisheries Bulletin 2: 1-35 map [15] (Long Toms, Needle Fishes)

 

History of changes

Published	As part of group	Action Date	Action Type	Compiler(s)
29-Mar-2018	BELONIFORMES	22-Mar-2018	MODIFIED	Dr Dianne Bray (NMV) Dr Doug Hoese (AM) Dr Matthew Lockett (AM)
		12-Feb-2010	(import)