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Garfish (Hyporhamphus quoyi) — Hemiramphidae

Garfish

Hyporhamphus quoyi
Family: Hemiramphidae
LC · Least Concern

The Garfish (Hyporhamphus quoyi) is a fish that lives in both fresh and salt water of the family Hemiramphidae that grows up to 31 cm.

Length
31.2 cm
Water
Euryhaline
Depth
0.0–? m
Diet
Omnivore
Behaviour
Large groups
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Open water
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Commonly eaten

Description

Quoy's halfbeak is a halfbeak (Hemiramphidae) from the Indo-West Pacific. The species has a slender, silvery body with a short upper jaw and a strongly elongated, beak-like lower jaw, characteristic of the halfbeaks. It stays just below the water surface and prefers turbid, estuarine waters; it does not occur at oceanic islands. As an omnivore it feeds on floating plant matter, small invertebrates and insects at the surface. The species is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Garfish?

The Garfish has an elongate, eel-like body, is mainly silver-grey and shows a plain pattern.

Where does the Garfish live?

The Garfish lives in both fresh and salt water and is mostly found around open water.

How big does the Garfish get?

The Garfish grows to a maximum of about 31 cm.

Is the Garfish dangerous to humans?

No, the Garfish is harmless to humans.

Is the Garfish edible?

Yes, the Garfish is commonly eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Quoys halfsnavel sourced
English name
Garfish verified
Scientific name
Hyporhamphus quoyi
Family
Hemiramphidae
Other names
Garfish; Halfbeak; Half-beak; Longtail garfish; Quoy's garfish verified

Appearance

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

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Euryhaline sourced
Substrate
Open water sourced
Min depth (m)
0.0 verified
Origin
Native sourced

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Omnivore sourced
Social behaviour
Large groups inferred
Territorial
No inferred
Activity
Diurnal inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred

For anglers

Edibility
Commonly eaten sourced
Fishing method
Sportvissen met kunstaas of (dood/levend) aasvis door te trollen, te werpen of drijvend te vissen in open water. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless sourced

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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