Strongylura strongylura, the spottail needlefish or blackspot longtom, is a species of needlefish from the familyBelonidae. It is found in the Indian and western Pacific Oceans from the Persian Gulf east to Australia and the Philippines.[2] This species occurs in coastal waters and in mangrove-lined lagoons as well as being recorded in estuarine areas and it has even entered freshwater. Living S. strongylura have been found alive and buried in mud during low tide.[1] It is piscivorous, feeding mainly on clupeoids. This species is oviparous and the eggs adhere to objects in the water which catch the tendrils which cover the surface of the egg.[2]Strongylura strongylura under the synonym of Strongylura caudimaculata is the type species of the genus Strongylura.[3] It as originally described as Belone strongylura by Johan Coenraad van Hasselt in 1823 with the type locality given as Vizagapatam, India.[4]
