Zenarchopterus dispar (Valenciennes, 1847)
Feathered river-garfish
Zenarchopterus dispar
photo by Ramani Shirantha

Family:  Zenarchopteridae (Internally fertilized halfbeaks)
Max. size:  19 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  reef-associated; freshwater; brackish; marine; pH range: 7 - 8; dH range: 10; depth range 0 - 3 m, oceanodromous
Distribution:  Indo-Pacific: Kenya, Mozambique, Seychelles, Madagascar, New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Australia, New Caledonia, Fiji, and Samoa. Reported from Sri Lanka (Ref. 6028) and Vanuatu (Ref. 13300). Also found in India, Malaysia, Thailand and Singapore (Ref. 43081).
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 11-12; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 12-13; Vertebrae: 42-43. Upper jaw distinctly wider than long. Snout uniform brown without any dark band on the midline. Pectoral fin shorter than head length. Lower jaw much shorter than head. Sixth and seventh anal rays of adult males greatly thickened and elongated, both rays reaching beyond the caudal base. Either dorsal ray 4 or 5 or both elongated and thickened. Description: Characterized by greyish color dorsally and silvery white below reddish lower jaw; presence of scales on upper jaw; upper jaw distinctly wider than long, length 1.0-1.2 in width; elongate and pointed nasal papilla, extending well outside of nasal opening (Ref. 90102).
Biology:  Inhabit shallow water around mangrove in sheltered bays (Ref. 26367). Early juveniles are neustonic and float on the surface of estuarine mangroves (Ref. 43081).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 07 November 2020 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless
Country info:   
 


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