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Congaturi halfbeak (Hyporhamphus limbatus) — Hemiramphidae

Congaturi halfbeak

Hyporhamphus limbatus
Family: Hemiramphidae
LC · Least Concern

The Congaturi halfbeak (Hyporhamphus limbatus) is a fish that lives in both fresh and salt water of the family Hemiramphidae that grows up to 35 cm.

Length
35 cm
Water
Euryhaline
Depth
0.0–? m
Diet
Omnivore
Behaviour
Schooling
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Open water
Danger
Harmless
Range
South and Southeast Asia
Edibility
Rarely eaten

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Description

The Congaturi halfbeak is a small halfbeak from coastal, estuarine and fresh water of South and Southeast Asia. The species grows to about 35 cm and has a slender, silvery body with a shiny lateral stripe and an elongate, needle-like lower jaw. As a surface swimmer it schools in river mouths, lagoons and rivers and feeds on small zooplankton, insects and drifting algae. It is a local bait and food fish. The IUCN assesses the species as Least Concern (LC).

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Congaturi halfbeak?

The Congaturi halfbeak has an elongate, eel-like body, is mainly silver-grey and shows a horizontal stripes pattern. Needle-shaped elongated lower jaw; schooling surface swimmer

Where does the Congaturi halfbeak live?

The Congaturi halfbeak lives in both fresh and salt water and is mostly found around open water. South and Southeast Asia

How big does the Congaturi halfbeak get?

The Congaturi halfbeak grows to a maximum of about 35 cm. On average the species is around 13 cm.

Is the Congaturi halfbeak dangerous to humans?

No, the Congaturi halfbeak is harmless to humans. This species is harmless to humans. No specific first aid is needed. Still handle the fish with care: mind the fin rays and the sharp edges of the gill cover, and rinse any scratch with clean water and cover it. For a dirty or deep wound check tetanus status.

Is the Congaturi halfbeak edible?

The Congaturi halfbeak is rarely eaten.

More photos

Congaturi halfbeak (Hyporhamphus limbatus) — Hemiramphidae — 2
iNaturalist ((c) sharkdevotee, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Congaturi halfbeak (Hyporhamphus limbatus) — Hemiramphidae — 3
iNaturalist ((c) H.T.Cheng, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Congaturi halfbeak (Hyporhamphus limbatus) — Hemiramphidae — 4
Wikimedia Commons — R. Mintern (Public domain)
Congaturi halfbeak (Hyporhamphus limbatus) — Hemiramphidae — 5
Randall, John E. (CC0 1.0) via GBIF — USNM
Fin

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All data

Identification

English name
Congaturi halfbeak verified
Scientific name
Hyporhamphus limbatus
Family
Hemiramphidae
Other names
Congaturi halfbeak; Garfish; Halfbeak; Valenciennes halfbeak verified

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
35.0 verified
Average length (cm)
13.0 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Silver / grey sourced
Pattern
Horizontal stripes sourced
Tail shape
Forked inferred
Mouth position
Superior (upward) sourced
Lips
Thin sourced
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
One continuous sourced
Dorsal spines
No sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Euryhaline sourced
Substrate
Open water sourced
Min depth (m)
0.0 verified
Natural range
South and Southeast Asia verified
Origin
Native verified

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Omnivore sourced
Diet (detail)
Small zooplankton, insects and floating algae inferred
Social behaviour
Schooling sourced
Territorial
No sourced
Activity
Diurnal sourced
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No sourced
Seasonality
Schooling estuarine halfbeak; present year-round. sourced
Special features
Needle-shaped elongated lower jaw; schooling surface swimmer sourced

For anglers

Edibility
Rarely eaten sourced
Fishing method
Net fishing sourced
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless sourced
First aid
This species is harmless to humans. No specific first aid is needed. Still handle the fish with care: mind the fin rays and the sharp edges of the gill cover, and rinse any scratch with clean water and cover it. For a dirty or deep wound check tetanus status. verified

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

Same genus Hyporhamphus

More from the family Hemiramphidae

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