Hyporhamphus sajori (Temminck & Schlegel, 1846)
Japanese halfbeak
photo by Miyahara, H.

Family:  Hemiramphidae (Halfbeaks)
Max. size:  40 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  pelagic-neritic; freshwater; brackish; marine; depth range - 30 m, amphidromous
Distribution:  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. Recorded from the lower part of the Yangtze River in China. Occurrence of this species south to the Ryukyu Islands and Taiwan needs verification.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 14-18; Anal spines: 0-0; 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.
Biology:  Common in inshore waters. Occurs in the lower part of the Yangtze River in China (Ref. 10943). Forms small schools and feed mainly on zooplankton. Meat delicious. Also caught with dip nets. Used in Chinese medicine (Ref. 12166).
IUCN Red List Status: Not Evaluated (N.E.) Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless
Country info:   
 


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