The Halfbeak Family – Hemiramphidae

There are currently EIGHT members of the Halfbeak or Hemiramphidae Family, two from the Atlantic Ocean and six from the Pacific Ocean, presented in this website:

FROM THE ATLANTIC (2):

FROM THE PACIFIC (6):

The Halfbeak or Hemiramphidae Family, has one hundred and eleven  members that have been placed in thirteen genera, of which fourteen species are found in Mexican waters, six in the Atlantic Ocean, six in the Pacific Ocean, and two in both oceans. In Mexico they are known as pajaritos in Mexico, are elongated silvery fish with an elongated lower jaw that extends into a long beak. When used as baits, the Halfbeaks found off the Baja California and Pacific coasts of Mexico are called “Ballyhoo” by local fishermen, noting that the Ballyhoo, Hemiramphus brasiliensis, is in fact a species found only in the Atlantic Ocean. Their upper jaw is triangular and very short, giving rise to the “halfbeak” name. They have a ridge across their nose. They are greenish to blue dorsally and are silvery white ventrally and on their sides. Many have a lower jaw with a red tip. Their anal and dorsal fins are at the rear of the body with bases opposite each other and have no spines. Their caudal fin is forked or concave with a longer lower lobe. Their pelvic fins are low on the body and located toward the rear of the body with 6 rays. Their pectoral fins are short. Their lateral line runs along the ventral portion of the body. They are covered with large smooth scales. The majority of Halfbeaks are omnivores feeding on floating sea grasses, crustaceans, and small fish. In turn they are preyed upon by birds, dolphins, dorado, marlins, porpoises, squids, and tuna and are a major component of the food chain. They have the ability to breach and skitter on the water surface. Reproduction is oviparous with females generating large eggs that are adhesive and attach themselves to floating objects. They are found in all global tropical and temperate seas but are not of significant commercial importance. They are sold in local markets, being caught with seines, surface trawls, and dip nets at night under lights, with excellent flesh being marketed fresh, dried or smoked. They are closely related to the Exocoetidae Family of Flyingfish.