Dussumier's Halfbeak

Hyporhamphus dussumieri

Bislamalongmaot— names this kind of animal, not this species alone

Dussumier's Halfbeak — photo 1 of 2 — Photo 1 of 2 · Rainer Kretzberg · CC BY 3.0 · via Wikimedia Commons

raresilverschoolingmediumlagoon

Habitat: Lagoon
Max size: 43 cm
Depth: 0-6 m
Family: Hemiramphidae

The Dussumier's halfbeak, also known as the slender garfish, lives in reefs and shallow lagoons. It is an Indo-Pacific species which is found from the Seychelles east to the Tuamotu Islands, north to Hong Kong and Okinawa and south to northern Australia. They form schools which are found near the surface of lagoons and seaward reefs. The longest known specimen was 38.0 cm in length. This species was described by Achille Valenciennes in 1847 with the type locality given as the Seychelles. The specific name honours the French voyager and merchant Jean-Jacques Dussumier (1792–1883).

Adapted from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Easily confused with

Side by side, with what tells them apart.

Two halfbeaks that school at the surface of lagoons, both with a long lower jaw tipped in red. Spotted Halfbeak has three to nine, usually four to six, dark bars on its silvery sides and a bluish back. Dussumier's Halfbeak has no bars: it is greenish above and plain silvery white below.

See the Spotted Halfbeak →

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