CIBED - - Flat Needlefish

Ablennes hians Flat Needlefish Pāpā ^RR

f.BELONIDAE Needlefishes

Ablennes hians Flat Needlefish Pāpā ^RR

f.BELONIDAE Needlefishes

Cook Islands Status Summary

Show Notes

Intl. NamesFlat Needlefish ^EN Barred Needlefish ^EN Giant Needlefish ^EN Needlefish ^EN

Local NamesPāpā^{RR,MG,AT,MK,MT,MH,RK} Taravana^AK Aku^PL Aku Pāepāe^TNs,TNw

Pacific NamesIheraha ^TAH

Sci. NamesAblennes hians (accepted name) , Belone hians, Tylosurus hians

High Tax. Eng.k.Animals, p.Vertebrates, spc.Fishes, c.Bony Fishes, f.Needlefishes - Bony Fish

High Tax. Latink.ANIMALIA, p.CHORDATA, sp.GNATHOSTOMATA, spc.PISCES, c.OSTEICHTHYES, o.Beloniformes, so.Belonoidei, spf.Scomberesocoidea, f.BELONIDAE

Natl. PresencePresentOceanic^P

Sth. PresenceRR⁺MG^PAT?MK?MT?AK?PL^PMN?TK?

Nth. PresenceTN?MH⁺RK?PK?NS?SW?

VouchersRR¹⁹⁹⁹ PL¹⁹⁹⁵

Local OriginNative; Resident

Global RangeNative: circumtropical - temperate zones;

HabitatAquatic; Marine; Oceanic

ThreatenedNo Content

InvasivenessNo Content

BiosecurityNo Content

Medical StatusNo Content

Harmful StatusNo Content

UsesNo Content

IdentificationAn elongate fish to 120cm, strongly compressed. Dark above with silvery sides and belly; dark spots or short bars below Dorsal fin, sometimes continuing forward along sides. Beak jaws long and equal, with many needle-like teeth.

Similar SpeciesThis is the only needlefish with spots or bars on the sides.

Interest NoteNo Content

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Video: 0
Audio: 0
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5BB242_Able-hian_

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Adult - dead; full body

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Vernacular Names

English and International Names

Flat Needlefish ^EN Barred Needlefish^EN Giant Needlefish^EN Needlefish^EN

Pacific Names

Iheraha ^TAH

Local Names

Pāpā^{RR,MG,AT,MK,MT,MH,RK} Taravana^AK Aku^PL Aku Pāepāe^TNs,TNw

National Name: Pāpā ^RR

Island	Status	Main name
National name	RR	Pāpā
Rarotonga	+	Pāpā
Mangaia	P	Pāpā
Ātiu		Pāpā
Ma‘uke		Pāpā
Miti‘āro		Pāpā
Aitutaki		Taravana
Palmerston	P	Aku
Tongareva-write		Aku Pāepāe
Tongareva-speak		Aku Pāepāe
Manihiki	+	Pāpā
Rakahanga		Pāpā
Pukapuka		?P,?N
Nassau		?P,?N

Scientific Names and Taxonomy

National Distribution & Vouchers

National Presence:

Present

Oceanic

Present

islands: [ , {label: 'Rarotonga', stroke: '#009900', fill: '#00CC00', symbol: 'GR', tris: '', trif: '', top: 404.5, left: 210.5, labelLeft: 222, labelTop: 404} , {label: 'Mangaia', stroke: '#009900', fill: '#00CC00', symbol: 'GR', tris: '', trif: '', top: 427.5, left: 261.5, labelLeft: 274, labelTop: 426} , {label: 'Ātiu', stroke: '#0000a0', fill: '#fff', symbol: 'WR', tris: '', trif: '', top: 372.5, left: 261.5, labelLeft: 244, labelTop: 382} , {label: 'Ma‘uke', stroke: '#0000a0', fill: '#fff', symbol: 'WR', tris: '', trif: '', top: 374.5, left: 282.5, labelLeft: 284, labelTop: 385} , {label: 'Miti‘āro', stroke: '#0000a0', fill: '#fff', symbol: 'WR', tris: '', trif: '', top: 358.5, left: 274.5, labelLeft: 283, labelTop: 351} , {label: 'Aitutaki', stroke: '#0000a0', fill: '#fff', symbol: 'WR', tris: '', trif: '', top: 334.5, left: 210.5, labelLeft: 209, labelTop: 321} , {label: 'Palmerston', stroke: '#009900', fill: '#00CC00', symbol: 'GR', tris: '', trif: '', top: 309.5, left: 112.5, labelLeft: 124, labelTop: 309} , {label: 'Manuae', stroke: '#0000a0', fill: '#fff', symbol: 'WR', tris: '', trif: '', top: 346.5, left: 234.5, labelLeft: 244, labelTop: 338} , {label: 'Takūtea', stroke: '#0000a0', fill: '#fff', symbol: 'WR', tris: '', trif: '', top: 362.5, left: 254.5, labelLeft: 211, labelTop: 363} , {label: 'Tongareva', stroke: '#0000a0', fill: '#fff', symbol: 'WR', tris: '', trif: '', top: 32.5, left: 260.5, labelLeft: 205, labelTop: 31} , {label: 'Manihiki', stroke: '#009900', fill: '#00CC00', symbol: 'GR', tris: '', trif: '', top: 80.5, left: 175.5, labelLeft: 187, labelTop: 80} , {label: 'Rakahanga', stroke: '#0000a0', fill: '#fff', symbol: 'WR', tris: '', trif: '', top: 63.5, left: 173.5, labelLeft: 186, labelTop: 63} , {label: 'Pukapuka', stroke: '#0000a0', fill: '#fff', symbol: 'WR', tris: '', trif: '', top: 88.5, left: 33.5, labelLeft: 45, labelTop: 88} , {label: 'Nassau', stroke: '#0000a0', fill: '#fff', symbol: 'WR', tris: '', trif: '', top: 108.5, left: 46.5, labelLeft: 59, labelTop: 108} , {label: 'Suwarrow', stroke: '#0000a0', fill: '#fff', symbol: 'WR', tris: '', trif: '', top: 162.5, left: 115.5, labelLeft: 127, labelTop: 162} ] , legend: [{label: 'Not Assessed', top: 235, stroke: '#0000a0', fill: '#ffffff', symbol: 'WR', tris: '', trif: ''}, {label: 'Present', top: 250, stroke: '#009900', fill: '#00CC00', symbol: 'GR', tris: '', trif: ''}, {label: '? Present', top: 265, stroke: '#006600', fill: '#00CC00', symbol: 'GWR', tris: '#ACACAC', trif: '#ffffff'}, {label: 'Absent', top: 280, stroke: '#C00000', fill: '#CC0000', symbol: 'RR', tris: '', trif: ''}, {label: '? Absent', top: 295, stroke: '#C00000', fill: '#CC0000', symbol: 'RWR', tris: '#c0c0c0', trif: '#ffffff'}, {label: 'Intercepted', top: 312, stroke: '#990000', fill: '#CC0000', symbol: 'RDR', tris: '#000000', trif: '#000000'}, {label: 'Extirpated/Extinct', top: 331, stroke: '#006600', fill: '#00CC00', symbol: 'RGR', tris: '#660000', trif: '#CC0000'} ]

Island	Status
Rarotonga	+
Mangaia	Present
Ātiu
Ma‘uke
Miti‘āro
Aitutaki
Palmerston	Present
Manuae
Takūtea
Tongareva
Manihiki	+
Rakahanga
Pukapuka
Nassau
Suwarrow

Note: S.Group, RR and PL. PLUS:

Vouchers for:
Ablennes hians

Cook Islands

Southern

Northern

Oceanic

Rarotonga _____ 1999 2fsP fieldspecimen+photo 2 specimen, scoop-netted at night Paruru Pera 13/4/99, photo and ID G.McCormack.

Mangaia

Ātiu

Ma‘uke

Miti‘āro

Aitutaki

Palmerston _____ 1995 4bm book report reported (Preston95).

Manuae

Takūtea

Tongareva

Manihiki

Rakahanga

Pukapuka

Nassau

Suwarrow

Identification

Local Origin and Global Range

Habitat

no data available

Threatened

no data available

Invasive/Pest Status

no data available

Biosecurity

Medicinal

no data available

Species Uses

References

Citation Information

McCormack, Gerald (2026) Cook Islands Biodiversity & Ethnobiology Database, Version 2026.03.16 - Cook Islands Natural Heritage Trust, Rarotonga. Online at https://naturalheritage.gov.ck/cibed
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Invasive/Pest Status

Biosecurity

Medicinal

Species Uses

References

Citation Information

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