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Tropical halfbeak (Hyporhamphus affinis) — Hemiramphidae

Tropical halfbeak

Hyporhamphus affinis
Family: Hemiramphidae

The Tropical halfbeak (Hyporhamphus affinis) is a saltwater fish of the family Hemiramphidae that grows up to 38 cm.

Length
38 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
0.0–6.0 m
Behaviour
Schooling
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless

Description

The Tropical halfbeak is a halfbeak (Hemiramphidae) from coastal waters of the Indo-West Pacific. The species grows to about 38 cm and has a slender, silvery body with a short upper jaw and a strongly elongate, beak-like lower jaw. As a surface schooling fish it swims just below the water surface and eats floating seagrass, algae and small zooplankton. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Tropical halfbeak?

The Tropical halfbeak has an elongate, eel-like body and is mainly silver-grey.

Where does the Tropical halfbeak live?

The Tropical halfbeak lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground.

How big does the Tropical halfbeak get?

The Tropical halfbeak grows to a maximum of about 38 cm.

Is the Tropical halfbeak dangerous to humans?

No, the Tropical halfbeak is harmless to humans.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Tropische halfsnavelbek sourced
English name
Tropical halfbeak sourced
Scientific name
Hyporhamphus affinis
Family
Hemiramphidae
Other names
Garfish; Insular halfbeak; Tropical garfish verified

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
38.0 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Silver / grey sourced
Tail shape
Forked inferred

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Stone or rock sourced
Min depth (m)
0.0 verified
Max depth (m)
6.0 verified
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

Social behaviour
Schooling sourced
Territorial
No inferred
Activity
Diurnal inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes inferred
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred

For anglers

Fishing method
Vissen met natuurlijk aas (vis, garnaal, worm) of kunstaas dicht bij rif- en rotsstructuren. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless 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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