Hemiramphus brasiliensis (Linnaeus, 1758)
Ballyhoo halfbeak
photo by Stewart, D.

Family:  Hemiramphidae (Halfbeaks)
Max. size:  55 cm TL (male/unsexed); max.weight: 200.0 g
Environment:  reef-associated; marine; depth range 0 - 5 m
Distribution:  Western Atlantic: Massachusetts, USA and northern Gulf of Mexico to Brazil, including the Caribbean Sea (Ref. 3723); absent in Bermuda. Eastern Atlantic: Cape Verde and Dakar, Senegal to Luanda, Angola (Ref. 4497).
Diagnosis:  Dorsal soft rays (total): 13-14; Anal soft rays: 12-13. No ridge between nostril and eye (Ref. 26938).
Biology:  An inshore, surface-dwelling species forming sizeable schools (Ref. 3723). Feeds mainly on sea grasses and small fishes (Ref. 3723). Mainly used as bait for offshore game fishes such as sailfishes and marlins; utilized as a food fish in the West Indies (Ref. 3723).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 21 August 2012 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  reports of ciguatera poisoning


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