| Family: |
Hemiramphidae (Halfbeaks) |
| Max. size: |
16 cm TL (male/unsexed) |
| Environment: |
pelagic-neritic; freshwater; brackish; marine; depth range - 0 m |
| Distribution: |
Western Indian Ocean: coastal waters and estuaries of South Africa, from Cape of Good Hope east and north to False Bay, Natal and St. Lucia coast of North Zululand (Ref. 6798); and to Lake Piti in southern Mozambique (Ref. 4164). |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 14-17; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 15-16. Description: Body depth 10.1-10.9 times in standard length for adults, 8.7-9.4 times in standard length for specimens of 5-8 cm standard length; head 4.3-4.8 times in standard length (Ref. 4164). Lower jaw 2.9-4.4 times in standard length and 0.7-0.9 times in head length; upper jaw width in length 1.0-1.1 in specimens greater than 8 cm standard length, shorter in smaller specimens; teeth arranged in 2-4 rows (Ref. 4164). Preorbital distance 1.5-1.7 times in orbit and 1.4-1.8 times in upper jaw length (Ref. 4164). Dorsal fin with 14-17 rays; anal fin with 15-16 rays; pectoral fin with 10-12 rays; pelvic fin closer to pectoral fin origin than to caudal fin base (Ref. 4164). Predorsal scales 31-38; no scales on dorsal fin; a maximum of 2-3 scales on anterior 2 membranes of anal fin; scales on upper jaw in 1 row on either side of median ridge (Ref. 4164). |
| Biology: |
Found in coastal waters and estuaries (Ref. 4164, 5213), also enters freshwater (Ref. 6798). |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Not Evaluated (N.E.) Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
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