| Family: |
Hemiramphidae (Halfbeaks) |
| Max. size: |
40 cm SL (male/unsexed) |
| Environment: |
reef-associated; brackish; marine; depth range - 0 m |
| Distribution: |
Pacific Ocean: ranging eastward to the Gilbert Islands and Samoa, north to southern Japan. Confused with Hemiramphus archipelagicus under the name Hemiramphus marginatus by many authors (Ref. 10943). |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 12-15; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 10-13; Vertebrae: 52-57. Greatly prolonged, beak-like lower jaw; upper jaw short, triangular and without scales; preorbital ridge absent; total number of gill rakers on first gill arch 33-46; pectoral fins long, reaching beyond anterior margin of nasal pit when folded forward; no spots or vertical bars on sides. |
| Biology: |
Inhabits coastal waters rich in vegetation (Ref. 5213). Found more offshore than other species of Hemiramphus in the western central Pacific; juveniles and immature individuals are relatively common far from shore, usually among floating plants (Ref. 9843). Caught by set-net. |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Not Evaluated (N.E.) Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
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