COMMON NAMES: Houndfish, Crocodile Needlefish, Crocodile Longtom, Crocodilian Longtom; German Riesen-Hornhecht; French Orphie Crocodile

TRADITIONAL NAMES: ‘Aku (RR MG), Akuaku < Aku (AT), Aku (MK MT TS TW), Taravana (AK), Haku (MH), Aku / Aku-pā? (PK); Other Polynesian - Aavere (TAH), Aurepe (TAH-L), Eakupapa (TUA), Au (MQA), Kokoua (MVA)

GLOBAL DISTRIBUTION: NATIVE circumtropical - temperate zones

COOK ISLANDS STATUS: Native; At surface in lagoons and in ocean. PLUS: ; Marine, near-shore, Surface of lagoons and outer reef-slope

KEY FEATURES: Elongate to 150cm, ± cyclindrical body. Jaws long and equal, many vertical canines. Dark fleshy keel on side of tail-stalk; tail truncate, with enlarged lower lobe. Dark blue-green above, silvery sides, whitish belly.

SIMILAR SPECIES: The Flat Needlefish (Ablennes hians) has a ribbonlike body and dark bars on the sides of the body below the dorsal fin. Stongylura spp. Have elongate round bodies, but lack a keel on the tail-stalk. Easily confused with other Tylosurus. Features to record include: tongue texture; rays of Dorsal, Anal and pectoral fins; body depth to SL; angle of canines; exact insertion point of Pelvic fins - take all distances from tip of jaw.