Hyporhamphus intermedius (Cantor, 1842)
Asian pencil halfbeak
photo by Randall, J.E.

Family:  Hemiramphidae (Halfbeaks)
Max. size:  20.3 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  pelagic-neritic; freshwater; brackish; marine; depth range - 0 m, amphidromous
Distribution:  Northwest Pacific: Honshu, Japan and the northern part of the Yellow Sea south to southern China, including Taiwan. Reports from Ryukyu Islands do not seem to be supported by specimens and may represent misidentifications. However, all of Gushiken's Okinawa photographs (except the one labeled Hyporhamphus intermedius) seem to be correctly identified.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 13-17; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 14-19; Vertebrae: 47-54. Long upper jaw and many vertebrae (47-54) and predorsal scales (48-63). Lower jaw shorter than head length.
Biology:  Enters estuaries and freshwater. Feeds on zooplankton.
IUCN Red List Status: Not Evaluated (N.E.) Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless
Country info:   
 


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