WHATSTHATFISH
Bony fish

Tropical Halfbeak

Hyporhamphus affinis

Also known as: Coral Reef Halfbeak, Garfish, Insular Halfbeak, Needlefish, Tropical Garfish

Adult
@JarJar · EG, Egypt · November 20171 / 2
01

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!

02

How to identify

Pattern
stripes
Head & Mouth
long snoutred beak

Tap any trait to see other fish that share it.

03

Habitat & where to find it

  • Range · Indo-Pacific
  • Country only · 2
LIVES IN

Found in large schools, over the surface of lagoons, and seaward reefs, around islands, and coral reefs.

04

Adult photos 2

05

Discussion

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    ALL STAGES
    FOR THE MARINE-BIOLOGY CURIOUS

    Deep dive

    Taxonomy

    1. kingdomAnimalia
    2. phylumChordata
    3. classTeleostei
    4. orderBeloniformes
    5. familyHemiramphidae
    6. genusHyporhamphus
    7. speciesHyporhamphus affinis (Günther, 1866)

    SourcesWoRMSFishBase

    06

    More in the family

    Halfbeaks (Hemiramphidae)