Hyporhamphus ihi Phillipps, 1932
Hyporhamphus ihi
photo by SeaFIC

Family:  Hemiramphidae (Halfbeaks)
Max. size:  26 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  pelagic-neritic; marine; depth range - 0 m
Distribution:  Southwest Pacific: restricted to New Zealand, including the Chatham Islands.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 15-18; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 17-20; Vertebrae: 55-58. Gill rakers usually 32 or less on the first arch and 25 or less on the second arch. Relatively longer upper jaw (usually longer than wide) and lower jaw (usually longer than head length), especially at larger sizes.
Biology:  Occurs in inshore waters. Forms schools for spawning during mid summer (Ref. 9258). Feeds mainly on larger zooplankton like mysids, crab larvae and polychaete larvae (Ref. 26966).
IUCN Red List Status: Not Evaluated (N.E.) Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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