Strongylura senegalensis (Valenciennes)

Oladipo, Segun Olayinka, Everett, Amaya, Atofarati, Olabisi Tawakalit, Smith, Kennedy K., Nneji, Ifeanyi C., Adelakun, Kehinde Moruf & Nneji, Lotanna Micah, 2025, An updated ichthyofaunal checklist for the Nigerian Lagos Lagoon with notes on nomenclatural changes and the conservation status of species, Zootaxa 5646 (1), pp. 38-62 : 50

Strongylura senegalensis (Valenciennes) ;

Senegal needlefish

( Figure 2B )

Remarks: Strongylura senegalensis , formerly synonymized with Belone senegalensis (Valenciennes) , was occasionally observed in Badagry and Ikorodu but was commonly found in Epe. This species inhabits marine and brackish waters, with a distribution extending from Senegal through the Gulf of Guinea to Angola. Strongylura senegalensis is characterized by its elongated body, a bluish-green coloration on the dorsal side, and a silvery hue on the ventral side, with a distinct dark blue stripe running along its sides. Its fin ray counts are diagnostic, comprising 15 dorsal-fin rays, 16 anal-fin rays, and 11 pectoral-fin rays.

Figures

FIGURE 2. Representative pictures (A–L) of some newly collected fish species from the Nigerian Lagos Lagoon (A) Fontitrygon margaritella (Compagno & Roberts); (B) Strongylura senegalensis (Valenciennes); (C) Caranx fischeri (Smith- Vaniz & Carpenter); (D) Chloroscombrus chrysurus (Linnaeus); (E) Selene dorsalis (Gill); (F) Trachinotus falcatus (Linnaeus); (G) Trachinotus ovatus (Linnaeus); (H) Heterotis niloticus (Cuvier); (I) Marcusenius brucii (Boulenger); (J) Coptodon zillii (Gervais); (K) Oreochromis niloticus (Linnaeus); and (L) Citharinus citharus (Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire). Photo credit and Identification: Dr. S.O. Oladipo.