Flat needlefish (Ablennes hians) is a saltwater, brackish species recorded in Hong Kong, Taiwan, Malaysia, United States. It is mainly found over reef, at depths of 0–3 m.
Scientific name: Ablennes hians · Water: Saltwater, Brackish
Size: up to 140 cm
The flat needlefish is a belonid of neritic and oceanic waters, though it is more often found near islands, and it enters estuaries and coastal rivers, sometimes forming large schools. It feeds mainly on small fishes. It is oviparous, and its eggs attach to objects in the water by filaments on their surface. Its length is measured unusually: because the jaws are frequently broken, the reported maximum of 140 cm is body length excluding head and caudal fin. Females develop only the left gonad, and in males the right one is small or absent. It is usually caught with the help of artificial lights. Sold fresh and salted, but the market is limited because the flesh is green.
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