This family is primarily associated with very shallow marine habitats or the surface of the open sea. They are elongated and have long narrow jaws and can grow up to 95cm long. They have been recorded only to family in our kororā diet study. There is not much known about Needlefishes in New Zealand, but two species have been in identified: Barred longtom Ablenned hians, and Needlefish Platybelone argalus.
Barred longtom: occurs worldwide in tropical and warm-temperate waters. It’s been recorded in New Zealand from the Kermadec Islands based on two individuals. It is an offshore pelagic (mid-water) species and can grow to 90cm (Roberts et al. 2015)
Source: Roberts et al. 2015Needlefish: occurs in all tropical and subtrocal ses of the world. In New Zealand waters it is recorded only from Raoul Island, Kermadec Islands, and there have been unconfirmed reports of this species around the northern North Island. It occurs in the top 2m on the ocean and can grow to 26cm. (Roberts et al. 2015)
Source: Roberts et al. 2015