Halfbeaks
Halfbeaks or garfishes are members of the Hemiramphidae family. They are found in the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific oceans. Most species are marine, but some inhabit freshwaters. They are named halfbeaks for their distinctive jaws, in which the lower jaws are significantly longer than their upper jaws.
Halfbeaks are omnivorous, feeding on floating sea grasses, crustaceans and small fishes. They live at the surface and are protectively coloured green or blue on the back and silvery white on the sides and ventrally. They are prone to leap and skitter at the surface. Some of these species can leap out of the water and glide like a flying fish.
There are 11 genera and about 121 species worldwide. Malaysia has about 16 species.
Halfbeaks are omnivorous, feeding on floating sea grasses, crustaceans and small fishes. They live at the surface and are protectively coloured green or blue on the back and silvery white on the sides and ventrally. They are prone to leap and skitter at the surface. Some of these species can leap out of the water and glide like a flying fish.
There are 11 genera and about 121 species worldwide. Malaysia has about 16 species.
Scientific Name: Hemiramphus far (Forsskål, 1775)
English Name: Black Barred Garfish, Black-barred Halfbeak
Chinese Name | 鱼类中文名: 斑鱵鱼 (Bān zhēn yú), 水针 (Shuǐ zhēn)
Malay Name | Nama Melayu Malaysia: Jolong-jolong, Jolong Selang Tanda
Thai Name | ชื่อสามัญภาษาไทย: ปลาตับเต่าลาย (Plā tạbtau lāy)
Local Hokkien: Chui Chiam
Main Identification Features: Body long, cylindrical and plump. 3 to 9 (usually 4 to 6) vertical bars on sides. Lower jaw greatly prolonged, beak-like. Upper jaw short, triangular and scaleless. Upper lobe of caudal fin yellowish and shorter than the lower lobe.
Size: Maximum total length about 44 cm. Maximum standard length 33 cm (from tip of upper jaw to base of caudal fin), commonly to 27 cm.
Habitat and Ecology: Coastal seagrasses, near surface. Form schools. Adults feed mainly on seagrasses, to a lesser extent on green algae and diatoms.
Scientific Name: Hyporhamphus dussumieri (Valenciennes, 1847)
English Name: Dussumier's Garfish, Dussumier's Halfbeak
Chinese Name | 鱼类中文名: 杜氏下鱵鱼 (Dùshìxià zhēn yú), 水针 (Shuǐ zhēn)
Malay Name | Nama Melayu Malaysia: Jolong-jolong, Jolong Tirus
Thai Name | ชื่อสามัญภาษาไทย: ปลากระทุง (Plāk ra thung), ปลาตับเต่าข้างเงิน (Plā tạbtau k̄ĥāng ngein)
Local Hokkien: Chui Chiam
Main Identification Features: Prolonged, beak-like lower jaw, 0.95-1.4 times in head length. Upper jaw short, triangular, and scaly. Fleshy tip of beak red.
Size: Maximum standard length 38 cm, commonly to 19 cm.
Habitat and Ecology: Coastal areas. Often found solitary or in groups just under the surface of the water.
Scientific Name: Hyporhamphus quoyi (Valenciennes, 1847)
English Name: Quoy's Garfish, Quoy's Halfbeak
Chinese Name | 鱼类中文名: 黑尾鱵 (Hēi wěi zhēn), 水针 (Shuǐ zhēn)
Malay Name | Nama Melayu Malaysia: Jolong-jolong, Jolong Kuala
Thai Name | ชื่อสามัญภาษาไทย: ปลากระทุงเหวปากแดง (Plāk ra thung h̄ew pāk dæng)
Local Hokkien: Chui Chiam
Main Identification Features: Prolonged, beak-like lower jaw, shorter than head length. Upper jaw short, scaly, blunt and rounded. Bony ridge between nasal opening and eye present. Fleshy tip of beak red.
Size: Maximum standard length 31 cm, commonly to 17 cm.
Habitat and Ecology: Turbid coastal and estuarine waters.
English Name: Black Barred Garfish, Black-barred Halfbeak
Chinese Name | 鱼类中文名: 斑鱵鱼 (Bān zhēn yú), 水针 (Shuǐ zhēn)
Malay Name | Nama Melayu Malaysia: Jolong-jolong, Jolong Selang Tanda
Thai Name | ชื่อสามัญภาษาไทย: ปลาตับเต่าลาย (Plā tạbtau lāy)
Local Hokkien: Chui Chiam
Main Identification Features: Body long, cylindrical and plump. 3 to 9 (usually 4 to 6) vertical bars on sides. Lower jaw greatly prolonged, beak-like. Upper jaw short, triangular and scaleless. Upper lobe of caudal fin yellowish and shorter than the lower lobe.
Size: Maximum total length about 44 cm. Maximum standard length 33 cm (from tip of upper jaw to base of caudal fin), commonly to 27 cm.
Habitat and Ecology: Coastal seagrasses, near surface. Form schools. Adults feed mainly on seagrasses, to a lesser extent on green algae and diatoms.
Scientific Name: Hyporhamphus dussumieri (Valenciennes, 1847)
English Name: Dussumier's Garfish, Dussumier's Halfbeak
Chinese Name | 鱼类中文名: 杜氏下鱵鱼 (Dùshìxià zhēn yú), 水针 (Shuǐ zhēn)
Malay Name | Nama Melayu Malaysia: Jolong-jolong, Jolong Tirus
Thai Name | ชื่อสามัญภาษาไทย: ปลากระทุง (Plāk ra thung), ปลาตับเต่าข้างเงิน (Plā tạbtau k̄ĥāng ngein)
Local Hokkien: Chui Chiam
Main Identification Features: Prolonged, beak-like lower jaw, 0.95-1.4 times in head length. Upper jaw short, triangular, and scaly. Fleshy tip of beak red.
Size: Maximum standard length 38 cm, commonly to 19 cm.
Habitat and Ecology: Coastal areas. Often found solitary or in groups just under the surface of the water.
Scientific Name: Hyporhamphus quoyi (Valenciennes, 1847)
English Name: Quoy's Garfish, Quoy's Halfbeak
Chinese Name | 鱼类中文名: 黑尾鱵 (Hēi wěi zhēn), 水针 (Shuǐ zhēn)
Malay Name | Nama Melayu Malaysia: Jolong-jolong, Jolong Kuala
Thai Name | ชื่อสามัญภาษาไทย: ปลากระทุงเหวปากแดง (Plāk ra thung h̄ew pāk dæng)
Local Hokkien: Chui Chiam
Main Identification Features: Prolonged, beak-like lower jaw, shorter than head length. Upper jaw short, scaly, blunt and rounded. Bony ridge between nasal opening and eye present. Fleshy tip of beak red.
Size: Maximum standard length 31 cm, commonly to 17 cm.
Habitat and Ecology: Turbid coastal and estuarine waters.
