Scientific Name
Petalichthys capensis

Common Name
Cape needlefish

Biology
Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 16-19; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 21 - 23. Bluish dorsally, silvery ventrally (Ref. 5317).

Classification

Classified By

Regan, 1904

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Needle fishes (Beloniformes)

Family

Needlefishes (Belonidae)

Distribution

Region

Southeast Atlantic and Western Indian Ocean

Distribution

Southeast Atlantic and Western Indian Ocean: False Bay to Pondoland, South Africa.

Range

Unknown

Environment

Climate

Subtropical

Water Temperature From

Unknown °C

Water Temperature To

Unknown °C

Depth From - meters

Unknown m

Depth To - meters

Unknown m

Zone

pelagic-oceanic

Environment

Marine; pelagic-oceanic

Trophic Level

4.05 s.e. 0.73 Based on size and trophs of closest relatives

Occurs in Marine / Salt water

True

Occurs in Brackish water

False

Occurs in Fresh Water

False

Occurs on Reefs

False

Is kept in Aquariums

False

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length

35.0 cm

Common Length

Unknown cm

Phylogenetic Diversity Index

PD50 = 1.0000 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses

Unknown

Vulnerability

Low vulnerability (23 of 100)

Resilience

High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Preliminary K or Fecundity.)

Threat To Humans

Harmless

IUCN Red List Status

Not Evaluated