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Flying halfbeak (Euleptorhamphus velox) — Hemiramphidae

Flying halfbeak

Euleptorhamphus velox
Family: Hemiramphidae
NE · Not Evaluated

The Flying halfbeak (Euleptorhamphus velox) is a saltwater fish of the family Hemiramphidae that grows up to 61 cm.

Length
61 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
0.0–? m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Schooling
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Snake-like
Substrate
Open water
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Rarely eaten

Description

The flying halfbeak is a remarkable halfbeak from tropical and subtropical seas worldwide. The species grows to about 61 cm and has an extremely slender, ribbon-like, silvery body with an elongate needle-shaped lower jaw and enlarged pectoral fins. With those pectoral fins it can, like flyingfishes, shoot out of the water and glide short distances over the surface to escape predators. It schools at the surface of open water and feeds on small zooplankton. The fish is harmless to humans. The IUCN has not evaluated the species.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Flying halfbeak?

The Flying halfbeak has a snake-like body, is mainly silver-grey and shows a plain pattern.

Where does the Flying halfbeak live?

The Flying halfbeak lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around open water.

How big does the Flying halfbeak get?

The Flying halfbeak grows to a maximum of about 61 cm. On average the species is around 35 cm.

Is the Flying halfbeak dangerous to humans?

No, the Flying halfbeak is harmless to humans.

Is the Flying halfbeak edible?

The Flying halfbeak is rarely eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Vliegende halfsnavel verified
English name
Flying halfbeak verified
Scientific name
Euleptorhamphus velox
Family
Hemiramphidae
Other names
Flying halfbeak verified

Appearance

Size class
Large verified
Max length (cm)
61.0 verified
Average length (cm)
35.0 verified
Body shape
Snake-like sourced
Dominant colour
Silver / grey sourced
Pattern
Plain sourced
Tail shape
Forked inferred
Mouth position
Superior (upward) sourced
Lips
Thin sourced
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
One continuous sourced
Dorsal spines
No sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Open water sourced
Min depth (m)
0.0 verified
Origin
Native verified

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore sourced
Social behaviour
Schooling sourced
Territorial
No sourced
Activity
Diurnal sourced
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No sourced

For anglers

Edibility
Rarely eaten sourced
Fishing method
Sportvissen met kunstaas of (dood/levend) aasvis door te trollen, te werpen of drijvend te vissen in open water. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless sourced

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

Same genus Euleptorhamphus

More from the family Hemiramphidae

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