Japanese halfbeak
📖 Overview
Common in inshore waters. Occurs in the lower part of the Yangtze River in China . Forms small schools and feed mainly on zooplankton. Meat delicious. Also caught with dip nets. Used in Chinese medicine .
🔬 Taxonomy
🐟 Physical Description
Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 14 - 18; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 15 - 18; Vertebrae: 59 - 63. Anterior branch of its preorbital canal curved forward at an angle of about 90°. Predorsal scales 66-81; vertebrae 59-63; pectoral fin rays 12-14, usually 13. Lower jaw shorter than head length.: elongated.
🌀 Behaviour
Behavioural data for Japanese halfbeak is currently being reviewed.
🦐 Diet
Diet information for Japanese halfbeak is currently being compiled.
🥚 Reproduction
Reproduction data for Japanese halfbeak is currently being compiled.
🌍 Habitat & Distribution
Marine; freshwater; brackish; pelagic-neritic; amphidromous; depth range 30 - ? m . Temperate; 34°N - 17°S Northwest Pacific: Yellow Sea, Pohai Sea, Japan Sea, and the Pacific coast of Japan, extending north to Sakhalin and to Preobrazheniye Bight and Vladivostok in the Gulf of Peter the Great.
🌿 Ecology
zooplankton
📐 Morphometrics
🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance
🛡️ Conservation Assessment
📊 Population Risk & Fisheries
🍽️ Edibility & Flavour
"Japanese halfbeak is an edible species."
- Clear, bright eyes — cloudy eyes indicate age
- Firm flesh that springs back when pressed
- Fresh ocean smell, never strong or ammonia-like
- Bright red or pink gills, not grey or brown
- Shiny, moist skin with scales tightly attached
- Cloudy or sunken eyes
- Strong fishy or ammonia odour
- Soft, mushy flesh that doesn't spring back
- Discoloured or dry flesh
⚡ Nutrition
Per 100g cooked — Source: USDA FoodData Central
| Nutrient | Amount |
|---|---|
| Protein | 18.2 g |
| Omega-3 (total) | 542 mg |
🔬 Mercury Safety
Mercury data for Japanese halfbeak has not yet been assigned. Please consult FDA/EPA guidance for general seafood safety advice.
🌿 Sustainability
🌐 Names & Taxonomy
| Language | Common Names |
|---|---|
| 🇬🇧English | Halfbeak · Halfbeak fish · Japanese halfbeak · Japanese needlefish |
| 🌍CES | polozobánka japonská |
| 🇩🇰Danish | Japansk halvnæb |
| 🇫🇷French | Demi-bec |
| 🇯🇵Japanese | Sayori · サヨリ |
| 🇰🇷Korean | 학공치 |
| 🇵🇹Portuguese | Meia-agulha-do-Japão · Meia-agulha-japonês |
| 🇷🇺Russian | Японский полурыл |
Scientific Synonyms
| Scientific Name | Author | Year | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hemiramphus sajori | Temminck & Schlegel | 1846 | Synonym |
🔍 Similar Species
🗺️ Global Occurrence Map
Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) — 152 records indexed .
👥 Community & Contribute
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