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🌊 Marine Least Concern ⚡ Reports of ciguatera poisoning 🌡️ Subtropical

Common halfbeak

Hyporhamphus unifasciatus Ranzani, 1841
Max Length
29.5 cm
Max Weight
-
Lifespan
-
Trophic Level
2
Depth
0–5 m
Climate
Subtropical
Resilience
High
Vulnerability
15.00/100
Typical Length
20 cm
Depth Zone
reef

📖 Overview

An inshore, surface-dwelling species forming sizeable schools, frequently entering estuaries . Uncommon over reefs . Omnivorous, feeds on algae and other small animals . Caught with 'mandinga' nets in Venezuela, often using lights . Edible but not really appreciated .

Scientific Name
Hyporhamphus unifasciatus
Authority
Ranzani, 1841
Habitat
Marine
Climate
Subtropical
Body Shape
Elongated
IUCN Status
LC
Max Length
29.5 cm
Depth Range
0–5 m
Latitude
40°S – 45°N
Trophic Level
2
Resilience
High
Vulnerability
15.00/100
Migration
Oceanodromous
Salinity
30–40 ppt

🔬 Taxonomy

🐟 Physical Description

Body elongate; lower jaw very prolonged; upper jaw short, triangular, and scaly; lower branch of first gill arch with 29 to 38 gill rakers; fins lacking spines; pectoral fins not very long; caudal fin emarginate or slightly forked; anal fin with 15 to 18 rays; back greenish, with 3 narrow, dark, bars; flanks and belly silvery white; fleshy border of lower jaw red; caudal fin light colored with dark tips .: elongated.

🌀 Behaviour

Behavioural data for Common halfbeak is currently being reviewed.

🦐 Diet

Diet information for Common halfbeak is currently being compiled.

🥚 Reproduction

🐣 Oviparous
Size at Maturity
18.9cm TL

Oviparous .

🌍 Habitat & Distribution

Marine; brackish; reef-associated; oceanodromous; depth range 0 - 5 m . Subtropical; 45°N - 40°S, 98°W - 32°W south Florida (USA), through the Caribbean and along the coasts of Central and South America to Uruguay.

🌿 Ecology

Zone Preferences
🌊 Marine 🌿 Brackish 🪸 Reef Associated
Migration
Oceanodromous
Trophic Level
2
🐠 Schooling
Food Items

algae and other small animals (Ref

📐 Morphometrics

Length–Weight Relationship: W = 0.00234 × L3.1 (TL)
Max TL
29.5cm

🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance

Salinity Range
30–40ppt

🛡️ Conservation Assessment

IUCN Category
Least Concern
Assessment Date
2019

📊 Population Risk & Fisheries

Population Resilience
High
Minimum doubling time
Fishing Vulnerability
15.00/100
Low vulnerability
Trophic Level
2
Omnivore / Planktivore
Body Shape
Elongated
Climate Zone
Subtropical
Latitude Range
45°N – 40°S
Described By
Ranzani, 1841

🌐 Names & Taxonomy

Language Common Names
🇬🇧English Atlantic silverstripe halfbeak · Ballyhoo · Common halfbeak · halfbeak · silverstripe halfbeak
🌍CES polozobánka jednopruhá
🇫🇷French Chandelle · Demi-bec blanc
🇵🇹Portuguese Meia-agulha · Meia-agulha-comum
🇷🇺Russian Однополосый нижнерыл
🇪🇸Spanish escribano · pajarito blanco del Atlántico
🌍VIE cá kìm sông

Scientific Synonyms

Scientific Name Author Year Status
Hemiramphus richardi Valenciennes 1847 Synonym
Hemiramphus unifasciatus Smith 1945 Synonym
Hemiranphus unifasciatus Ranzani 1841 Synonym
Hemirhamphus poeyi Günther 1866 Synonym
Hemirhamphus unifasciatus Ranzani 1841 Synonym
Hyporamphus unifasciatus Ranzani 1841 Synonym
Hyporhamphus richardi Valenciennes 1847 Synonym
Hyporhamphus tricuspidatus Gill 1859 Synonym

🗺️ Global Occurrence Map

Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 138 records indexed .

Occurrence density from GBIF View GBIF records ↗

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