Teleostei (teleosts) >
Beloniformes (Needle fishes) >
Hemiramphidae (Halfbeaks)
Etymology: Hemiramphus: Greek, hemi = half + Greek, rhamphos = bill, peak (Ref. 45335).
Eponymy: Count Frédéric Benjamin Lütke (1797–1882) was a Russian (of German descent) explorer and navigator. [...] (Ref. 128868), visit book page.
More on author: Valenciennes.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; brackish; reef-associated; depth range 0 - ? m. Tropical
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).
Length at first maturity / Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm 22.6, range 22 - 23.6 cm
Max length : 40.0 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 54980); common length : 25.0 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 9843)
Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 12 - 15; Anal spines: 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.
Body shape (shape guide): elongated.
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.
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Collette, B.B. and J. Su, 1986. The halfbeaks (Pisces, Beloniformes, Hemiramphidae) of the Far East. Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia 138(1):250-301. (Ref. 10943)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2025-2)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: minor commercial
Tools
Special reports
Download XML
Internet sources