Fish Identification Photos: Keel-Jawed Needlefish or Agujón Needlefish, Tylosurus acus melanotus: The Keel-Jawed Needlefish is very easy to identify because of one prominent feature—the large bony keel under its chin.

It also has the traditional “needlelike” appearance with an elongated body and prolonged jaws. The Keel-Jawed Needlefish or Agujón Needlefish is quite similar to and can be confused with the Pacific Needlefish, Tylosurus pacificus, although the Pacific Needlefish has no keel.

The Keel-Jawed Needlefish is a very rare species reported in the literature only around various islands including the Revillagigedos, Clipperton, Cocos, Malpelo and Tres Marias.

The Keel-Jawed Needlefish is a member of the Belonidae or Needlefish Family which are very similar in size and appearance and one can easily be fooled into an improper identification. However, the Keel-Jawed Needlefish is unmistakable. It reaches a maximum length of just over three feet.

Due to its obscurity little is known about the Keel-Jawed Needlefish or Agujón Needlefish. For example the fish catch described below occurred well out at sea, far to the north of previous reports, and far away from rocky islands. Needlefish are generally viewed by locals as poor table fare and a “catch and release.”

Note: there is significant controversy related to the Genus and Species of the fish pictured below. The species was recently changed from Tylosurus imperialis melanotus to Tylosurus acus melanotus. Some believe that the pictures below are actually of a rare form of the Pacific Needlefish, Tylosurus pacificus as Tylosurus acus melanotus is believed by most to be present only in the waters of the Atlantic Ocean.

Keel-Jawed Needlefish, Tylosurus acus melanotus: Caught with Capt. Pata in the panga Salome, La Playita, San Jose del Cabo, Baja California Sur, Mexico, midmorning in December 2003, in 76-degree water, on the surface with a flylined sardina pinned to a Mustad 92553, size 2/0 hook, about 15 miles northeast of La Playita. Size approximately 24 inches, and 5 pounds. This needlefish was caught at 23.0N 109.5W. The previously known most northerly and westerly observation of this species, as reported by Dr. Ross Robertson, Smithsonian Institute, Panama was 20.0N 105.0W, approximately 185 miles to the south and 250 miles to the east of this catch. A second one was collected in May 2005 in the same location and manner. Description and photos courtesy John Snow. Dr. Robertson has reviewed and confirmed the identity of the pictured fish as a Keel-Jawed Needlefish, Tylosurus acus melanotus.