Spotted Halfbeak

Hemiramphus far, commonly known as the halfbeak, black-barred halfbeak, black-barred garfish, barred halfbeak, barred garfish, or spotted halfbeak, is a marine species within the family Hemiramphidae, recognized for its schooling behavior. This species exhibits an Indo-Pacific distribution and has successfully extended its range into the eastern Mediterranean via the Suez Canal (🇪🇬 Egypt).

The morphology of Hemiramphus far is characterized by a laterally compressed, elongate oval body. Notably, it possesses a pronounced, beak-like lower jaw paired with a short, triangular upper jaw that is devoid of scales, lacking a preorbital ridge. The species features a total of 25–36 gill rakers on the first gill arch and 21–27 on the second. Its pectoral fins are short, terminating before the nasal fossa when folded forward. Distinctive dark vertical bars, typically ranging from 4 to 6, adorn its sides, while the dorsal side presents a bluish hue contrasted by silvery lateral surfaces. The caudal fin is asymmetrical, favoring a longer lower lobe, with both the dorsal and anal fins positioned towards the posterior and exhibiting a dark coloration. The lower jaw may display a red hue or a red tip. The species reaches a maximum length of 33 cm and an age of up to 4 years, thriving in depths of 0-6 meters.

Geographically, Hemiramphus far is prevalent in the 🌊 Indian Ocean, from the 🌊 Red Sea and East Africa to the 🌊 Pacific Ocean, extending eastward to 🇼🇸 Samoa, northward to the Ryukyu Islands (🇯🇵 Japan), and southward to northern 🇦🇺 Australia and 🇳🇨 New Caledonia (🇫🇷 Overseas France). This species was initially documented in the Mediterranean Sea near Palestine in 1927, following its migration through the Suez Canal (🇪🇬 Egypt). It has since become prolific across the eastern Mediterranean Basin, with recent sightings in Algeria in the western Basin.

Ecologically, Hemiramphus far is bathypelagic, residing primarily in coastal waters adjacent to mountainous islands and continental shorelines, frequently in areas abundant in vegetation and over sandy substrates. It is a sociable species that forms sizable schools. Adult Hemiramphus far are primarily phytivorous, feeding predominantly on seagrasses and, to a lesser extent, green algae and diatoms. Reproduction occurs in estuaries, with spawning in the more temperate regions occurring during spring and summer. The eggs are affixed to vegetation via adhesive threads, and post-hatching, the larvae are planktonic.

Economically, Hemiramphus far holds significant commercial value along the Arabian Sea coast of 🇵🇰 Pakistan, where it is harvested using drag nets and dip nets, although it is known for its ability to evade capture by leaping over nets. The species is esteemed for its flavorful flesh and is marketed both fresh and dried.

Taxonomically, Hemiramphus far was first described in 1775 by Swedish zoologist Peter Forsskål as Esox far. The generic name Hemiramphus was later introduced by French naturalist Georges Cuvier in 1816, derived from the Greek words "hemi" (half) and "rhamphos" (a bill or a peak), in reference to the distinctive jaw structure of the species.