Ballyhoo halfbeak (Hemiramphus brasiliensis) fish species and information / pictures of Ballyhoo halfbeak - Hemiramphus brasiliensis

Ballyhoo halfbeak (Hemiramphus brasiliensis) fish species information

Scientific Name
Hemiramphus brasiliensis

Common Name
Ballyhoo halfbeak

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).

Classification

Classified By

Linnaeus, 1758

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Needle fishes (Beloniformes)

Family

Halfbeaks (Hemiramphidae)

Distribution

Region

Western Atlantic

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).

Range

43°N - 13°S

Environment

Climate

Subtropical

Water Temperature From

Unknown °C

Water Temperature To

Unknown °C

Depth From - meters

0 m

Depth To - meters

5 m

Zone

reef-associated

Environment

Marine; reef-associated; depth range 0 - 5 m (Ref. 3723), usually 0 - 2 m (Ref. 40849)

Trophic Level

2.48 s.e. 0.35 Based on diet studies.

Occurs in Marine / Salt water

True

Occurs in Brackish water

False

Occurs in Fresh Water

False

Occurs on Reefs

True

Is kept in Aquariums

False

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length

55.0 cm

Common Length

35.0 cm

Phylogenetic Diversity Index

PD50 = 0.5005 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses

Fisheries: minor commercial; bait: usually

Vulnerability

Low to moderate vulnerability (27 of 100)

Resilience

Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (K=0.58 questionable; assuming tmax>3)

Threat To Humans

Reports of ciguatera poisoning (Ref. 30911)

IUCN Red List Status

Not Evaluated