Hyporhamphus dussumieri (Valenciennes, 1847)
Dussumier's halfbeak
photo by Seycek, O.

Family:  Hemiramphidae (Halfbeaks)
Max. size:  38 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  reef-associated; marine; depth range 0 - 6 m
Distribution:  Indo-Pacific: Seychelles (Ref. 2334) through the East Indies, Borneo, Philippines, and New Guinea north to Hong Kong and Okinawa and eastward as far as Tuamoto Islands.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 14-16; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 14-16; Vertebrae: 56-60. Prolonged, beak-like lower jaw, contained in 4.2-5.9 times in SL and 0.95-1.4 times in head length; upper jaw short, triangular, and scaly, its width 0.6-0.9 times in its length; length of preorbital bone contained in 1.7-2.2 times in diameter of orbit and 1.0-1.4 times in length of upper jaw. Total number of gill rakers on first arch 33-47; dorsal and anal fin rays 14-16. Caudal fin forked, with lower lobe longer than upper (Ref. 9843). Description: Characterized by greenish color dorsally and silvery white ventrally with red fleshy tip on lower jaw; depth of body about 6.7 in SL; well developed anterior lobe of dorsal fin; body width contained 1.1-1.3 in its depth (Ref. 90102).
Biology:  Most common around islands and coral reefs (Ref. 6041). Found in schools at surface of lagoon and seaward reefs (Ref. 9710, 48635). Marketed fresh and dried salted (Ref. 9843).
IUCN Red List Status: Not Evaluated (N.E.) Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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