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Jumping halfbeak (Hemiramphus archipelagicus) — Hemiramphidae

Jumping halfbeak

Hemiramphus archipelagicus
Family: Hemiramphidae

The Jumping halfbeak (Hemiramphus archipelagicus) is a saltwater fish of the family Hemiramphidae that grows up to 34 cm.

Length
34 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
0.0–? m
Behaviour
Schooling
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Open water
Danger
Harmless
Range
Asia: Brunei Darsm, Sri Lanka, Cook Is., India, Indonesia, Iran and others
Edibility
Commonly eaten

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Description

The Jumping halfbeak is a halfbeak (Hemiramphidae) from the open surface water of the Indo-West Pacific. The species grows to about 30 cm and has a slender, silvery, torpedo-shaped body with a strongly extended lower jaw forming a needle-like beak, while the upper jaw stays short. As a schooling surface fish it swims just below the waterline and snaps at drifting seagrass, small zooplankton and insects. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Jumping halfbeak?

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

Where does the Jumping halfbeak live?

The Jumping halfbeak lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around open water. Asia: Brunei Darsm, Sri Lanka, Cook Is., India, Indonesia, Iran and others

How big does the Jumping halfbeak get?

The Jumping halfbeak grows to a maximum of about 34 cm.

Is the Jumping halfbeak dangerous to humans?

No, the Jumping 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 Jumping halfbeak edible?

Yes, the Jumping halfbeak is commonly eaten.

More photos

Jumping halfbeak (Hemiramphus archipelagicus) — Hemiramphidae — 2
iNaturalist ((c) jonathan, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Jumping halfbeak (Hemiramphus archipelagicus) — Hemiramphidae — 3
iNaturalist ((c) Theodore, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Fin

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All data

Identification

English name
Jumping halfbeak sourced
Scientific name
Hemiramphus archipelagicus
Family
Hemiramphidae
Other names
Jumping halfbeak; Jumping half-beak; Halfbeak verified

Appearance

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

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Open water sourced
Min depth (m)
0.0 verified
Natural range
Asia: Brunei Darsm, Sri Lanka, Cook Is., India, Indonesia, Iran and others sourced
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

Social behaviour
Schooling sourced
Territorial
No inferred
Activity
Diurnal inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes inferred
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred
Seasonality
Present year-round in its habitat; no pronounced seasonality known. inferred

For anglers

Edibility
Commonly eaten inferred
Fishing method
Can be caught with natural bait or lures, matched to the size and habitat of the species. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless verified
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 Hemiramphus

More from the family Hemiramphidae

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