Latin name

Belone belone

Other names

Garpike, sea needle

Identification

It has an elongated, narrow, eel-like body that resembles that of a needlefish. The scales are very fine, pearly and shiny. The jaws are very elongated and form a characteristic "beak" similar to that of a pterodactyl. Due to its high biliverdin content, the bones of this fish are light to dark green in colour.

Distribution

Garfish are found in large numbers in the Black Sea and other seas.

Habitat

A marine, gregarious, pelagic fish that lives in the water column and near the surface.

Size

Maximum length is 104 cm, normal length is 70-75 cm and maximum mass is 1.4 kg.

Life history and Behavior

They make seasonal migrations. In spring the adults move closer to the coast to breed and in winter they move out to sea.

Food and feeding habits

Small sharp teeth on the beak allow the fish to grab small prey - sprat, hamsa, tulka, crustaceans - while swimming fast.

Reproduction

Females reach sexual maturity at the age of 5-6 years, males a year earlier. They begin their reproductive period in spring. Spawning is batch spawning, with the female laying up to 9 portions of eggs at 2-week intervals. The eggs are large, 3-3.5 mm in diameter, and are attached to algae and other aquatic vegetation with the help of thin sticky threads. Fecundity up to 45 thousand eggs. The length of the hatched larvae is 13 mm. Juveniles have a very short upper jaw, which lengthens as they grow.