Tropical Halfbeak
Hyporhamphus affinis
Also known as: Coral Reef Halfbeak, Garfish, Insular Halfbeak, Needlefish, Tropical Garfish
- Coral Reef Halfbeak
- Garfish
- Insular Halfbeak
- Needlefish
- Tropical Garfish
Overview
Found in large schools, over the surface of lagoons, and seaward reefs, around islands, and coral reefs.
Halfbeaks hunt smaller fish just below the surface of the sea, but in turn the are also hunted by larger fish like Tuna and can sometimes be seen leaping into the air and seeming to skip along on their tails on the surface of the water to escape predators.
Potentially dangerous at night when attracted to light as they leap out of the water and have been known to cause fatalities with their beaks!
How to identify
- Pattern
- stripes
- Head & Mouth
- long snoutred beak
- Behaviour
- leaps from waterschooling
Tap any trait to see other fish that share it.
Habitat & where to find it
- Range · Indo-Pacific
- Country only · 2
Found in large schools, over the surface of lagoons, and seaward reefs, around islands, and coral reefs.
Adult photos 2
Discussion
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Deep dive
More in the family
Halfbeaks (Hemiramphidae)




