Stout Longtom, Tylosurus gavialoides (Castelnau, 1873)

Scientific name: Tylosurus gavialoides
Alternative name/s:
Alligator Gar, Longtom, Needlefish
Stout Longtom, Tylosurus gavialoides Click to enlarge image
A Stout Longtom photographed by staff of the Australian National Fish Collection. Image: Gordon Yearsley
© CSIRO

Fast Facts

  • Classification
    Genus
    Tylosurus
    Species
    gavialoides
    Family
    Belonidae
    Order
    Beloniformes
    Class
    Actinopterygii
    Subphylum
    Vertebrata
    Phylum
    Chordata
    Kingdom
    Animalia
  • Size Range
    The species grows to 1.3 m in length.

Introduction

The Stout Longtom is a long slender species, coloured blue to green or grey above and silvery below. The snout and fins of adults are usually dusky. The species is endemic to Australia.

Identification

The Stout Longtom is a long slender species that has many needle-like teeth in its greatly elongated jaws. The dorsal and anal fins are positioned towards the rear of the body. The caudal fin is truncate although it can be weakly emarginate in adults. The fish is blue to green or grey above and silvery below. The snout and fins of adults are usually dusky.

Habitat

The Stout Longtom is a pelagic species that occurs in coral reef and inshore waters.

Distribution

It is endemic to Australia, occurring from south-western Western Australia, around the tropical north of the country and south to the southern coast of New South Wales.

The map below shows the Australian distribution of the species based on public sightings and specimens in Australian Museums. Source: Atlas of Living Australia.

References

  1. Collette, B.B. Belonidae. in Carpenter, K.E. & V.H. Niem. 1999. The Living Marine Resources of the Western Central Pacific. Volume 4. Bony fishes part 2 (Mugilidae to Carangidae). FAO. Rome Pp. iii-v, 2069-2790.
  2. Hoese, D.F., Bray, D.J., Paxton, J.R. & G.R. Allen. 2006. Fishes. In Beesley, P.L. & A. Wells. (eds) Zoological Catalogue of Australia. Volume 35. ABRS & CSIRO Publishing: Australia. parts 1-3, pages 1-2178.
  3. Hutchins, B. & R. Swainston. 1986. Sea Fishes of Southern Australia. Complete Field Guide for Anglers and Divers. Swainston Publishing. Pp. 180.
  4. Kuiter, R.H. 2000. Coastal Fishes of South-eastern Australia. Gary Allen. Pp. 437.