Southern sea garfish (Hyporhamphus melanochir) fish species and information / pictures of Southern sea garfish - Hyporhamphus melanochir

Southern sea garfish (Hyporhamphus melanochir) fish species information

Scientific Name
Hyporhamphus melanochir

Common Name
Southern sea garfish

Biology
Found inshore in surface waters of estuaries, bays, inlets and gulfs to a depth of about 20 m (Ref. 9563). In the South Australian gulfs, southern sea garfish may be found in deeper waters during the colder months (Ref. 27008). Generally herbivorous, seagrasses and algal filaments comprise about 75% of their food (Refs. 26551, 27013). Form schools, generally found near the surface at night and close to the bottom over seagrass beds during the day (Ref. 6390). Post-larvae or young fish less than 1-year-old live in estuaries from March to July then move to inshore marine waters, remaining there for up to 2 years (Ref. 27012).

Classification

Classified By

Valenciennes, 1847

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Needle fishes (Beloniformes)

Family

Halfbeaks (Hemiramphidae)

Distribution

Region

Eastern Indian Ocean

Distribution

Eastern Indian Ocean: Endemic to Australian temperate waters (Murchison River, Kalbarri in Western Australia to Eden, New South Wales, including Tasmania).

Range

27°S - 44°S

Environment

Climate

Temperate

Water Temperature From

Unknown °C

Water Temperature To

Unknown °C

Depth From - meters

0 m

Depth To - meters

20 m

Zone

pelagic-neritic

Environment

Marine; brackish; pelagic-neritic; depth range 0 - 20 m (Ref. 6390)

Trophic Level

2.65 s.e. 0.27 Based on food items.

Occurs in Marine / Salt water

True

Occurs in Brackish water

True

Occurs in Fresh Water

False

Occurs on Reefs

False

Is kept in Aquariums

False

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length

52.0 cm

Common Length

Unknown cm

Phylogenetic Diversity Index

PD50 = 0.5000 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses

Fisheries: commercial; bait: usually

Vulnerability

Low to moderate vulnerability (28 of 100)

Resilience

Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (K=0.51-0.77; tm=2-3; tmax=10)

Threat To Humans

Harmless

IUCN Red List Status

Not Evaluated