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HEMIR Hemir 6
1983
FAO SPECIES IDENTIFICATION SHEETS
FAMILY: HEMIRAMPHIDAE FISHING AREA 51 (W. Indian Ocean)
Hemiramphus lutkei (Valenciennes, 1846)
OTHER SCIENTIFIC NAMES STILL IN USE: None, but often misidentified as Hemiramphus marginatus (Forsskål, 1775)
VERNACULAR NAMES: FAO : En - Lutke's halfbeak Fr - Demi-bec de Lutke Sp - Agujeta de Lutke NATIONAL:
DISTINCTIVE CHARACTERS:
An elongate fish with a greatly prolonged, beak-like lower jaw; upper jaw short, triangular and scaleless; preorbital ridge (bony ridge behind nostril absent. Total number of gillrakers on first gill arch 33 to 46, usually 36 to 41; 9 to 14 on upper, and 24 to 32 on lower limb of arch. No spines in fins; dorsal fin rays 12 to 15, usually 13 or 14; anal fin rays 10 to 13, usually 12; pectoral fins long, reaching beyond anterior margin of nasal pit when folded forward and contained 4.8 to 5.4 times in standard length, with 10 to 12 rays, usually 11; caudal fin deeply forked, lower lobe much longer than upper. Predorsal scales 35 to 43, usually 37 to 41. Colour: dark bluish above, silvery white below, with no spots or vertical bars on sides. Beak dark with a bright red fleshy tip; upper lobe of caudal fin bluish.
DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERS OF SIMILAR SPECIES OCCURRING IN THE AREA:
Hemiramphus archipelagicus, He. far and He. marginatus: all have a short pectoral fin, not extending beyond the anterior margin of the nasal pit when folded forward and contained 5.2 to 6.8 times in standard length (extending beyond nasal pit and contained 4.5 to 5.4 times in standard length in He. lutkei); fewer gillrakers on first arch, 25 to 36, usually less than 34 (33 to 46 in He. lutkei, usually 36 or more); interorbital distance greater than orbit diameter or equal to it (less than orbit diameter in He. lutkei); predorsal scales 32 to 39, usually 37 or less (35 to 43, usually 37 or more in He. lutkei). Furthermore, He. far has 4 to 6 dark vertical bars on the sides (absent in He. lutkei). Hemiramphus far Rhynchorhamphus species: upper jaw strongly arched and covered with scales (nearly flat and naked in Hemirarnphus); nasal organ divided into fimbriae (a simple flattened lobe in Hemiramphus); more gillrakers, 47 to 78 (25 to 48 in Hemiramphus).
Hyporhamphus species: upper jaw covered upper jaw larger, with scales (scaleless in Hemiramphus); preorbital domed ridge present (absent in Hemiramphus); caudal fin slightly forked (deeply forked with lower lobe much longer than upper in Hemiramphus); more anal fin rays, 13 to 19 (10 to 14 in Hemiramphus). Rhynchorhamphus Euleptorhamphus viridis: body more slender; bases of dorsal and anal fins much longer, fins with many more rays (20 to 25 in dorsal and anal fins). nasal papilla fimbriated
preorbital no preorbital ridge ridge scaled Euleptorhamphus
scaleless preorbital canal without posterior branches Hyporhamphus (Hyporhamphus) Hemiramphus SIZE:
Maximum: about 40 cm total length; 30 cm standard length (from tip of upper jaw to base of caudal fin); common to 25 cm standard length. Hyporhamphus
GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION AND BEHAVIOUR:
Within the area, known from Mozambique, Zanzibar, Aldraba, the Comores Islands, Vizhinjam on the west coast of India and Sri Lanka. Also found in the Eastern Indian Ocean and Western Central Pacific eastward to southern Japan, the Gilbert Islands and Samoa. Found more offshore than the other species of Hemiramphus in Hemiramphus the area; juveniles and immature individuals are relatively common far from shore, usually among floating water plants.
PRESENT FISHING GROUNDS:
There is an important fishery for this species at Kilakkarai in the Gulf of Manaar from November to December.
CATCHES, FISHING GEAR AND FORMS OF UTILIZATION:
Separate statistics are not reported for this species.
Taken with kolachi vala nets at Vizhinjam on the southwest coast of India.
Marketed mostly fresh and dried salted.
HEMIR Hypor 3
1983
FAO SPECIES IDENTIFICATION SHEETS
FAMILY: HEMIRAMPHIDAE FISHING AREA 51 (W. Indian Ocean)
Hyporhamphus (Reporhamphus) dussumieri (Valenciennes, 1846)
OTHER SCIENTIFIC NAMES STILL IN USE: None
VERNACULAR NAMES: FAO : En - Dussumieri's halfbeak Fr - Demi-bec de Dussumier Sp - Agujeta de Dussumier NATIONAL:
DISTINCTIVE CHARACTERS:
An, elongate fish with a greatly prolonged, beak-like lower jaw, equal to or longer than head length; upper jaw short, triangular, and scaly, its width 0.6 to 0.9 times in its length; preorbital bone 1.7 to 2.2 times in diameter of orbit and 1 to 1.4 times in length of upper jaw; preorbital ridge (bony ridge between nasal opening and eye) resent; posterior branch to preorbital canal present. Total number of gillrakers on first gill arch 34 to 47, 10 to 14 on upper and 26 to 32 on lower limb of arch. No spines in fins; dorsal and anal fin rays 14 to 16, usually 15; pectoral fins short with 11 or 12 rays; caudal fin forked, with lower lobe longer than upper. Anterior part of dorsal fin and all of anal fin covered with scales; predorsal scales (in front of dorsal fin) 37 to 44, usually 38 to 41. Colour: greenish above, silvery white below. Fleshy tip of beak red.
DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERS OF SIMILAR SPECIES OCCURRING IN THE AREA:
Hyporhamphus quoyi anterior margin of upper jaw broadly rounded (triangular with a blunt point in Hy. dussumieri); lower jaw shorter, always much shorter than head length in adults (equal to, or longer than head length in Hy. dussumieri); fewer gillrakers on the first arch (26 to 34 compared to 34 to 47).
Hy. affini, Hy. erythrorinchus (Mauritius), and Hy. gamberur (Red Sea and Gulf of Aden): all have a longer preorbital bone which is contained 1.35 to 1.9 times in orbit diameter (1.7 to 2.15 times in Hy. dussumieri); anterior end of upper jaw more pointed. Furthermore, Hy. affinis and Hy. erythrorinchus have more anal rays, usually 16 or more (usually 15 or less in Hy. dussumieri).
Hy. balinensis: preorbital bone much longer, contained 1 to 1.35 times in orbit diameter and 0.65 to 1 times in the length of the upper jaw (1.7 to 2.15 and 1.05 to 1.4 times, respectively, in Hy. dussumieri) and lower jaw much longer, contained 0.7 to 0.9 times in head length in adults (0.6 to 0.75 times in adult Hy. dusumieri).
Hyporhamphus, subgenus Hyporhamphus (Hy. capensis and Hy. improvisus, South Africa; Hy. sindensis, the "Gulf" and upper jaw larger, North Arabian Sea; Hy. limbatus; and Hy. unicuspis and Hy. domed xanthopterus, South India): no posterior branch to preorbital canal, caudal fin emarginate (distinctly forked in Hy. dussumieri and other members of the subgenus Reporhamphus).
Rhynchorhamphus species: nasal papillae fimbriate Rhynchorhamphus (simple in Hyporhamphus); upper jaw large, domed (flatter and shorter in Hyporhamphus); more gillrakers, 47 to 78 on the first arch (53 or fewer in Hyporhamphus); 2 ascending branches of lateral line (a single ascending branch in Hyporhamphus). Hemiramphus species: upper jaw without scales (scaly in upper jaw smaller, Hyporhamphus); preorbital ridge absent (present in Hyporham- nasal papilla flattened phus); fewer anal fin rays, 10 to 14 (13 to 19 in Hyporhamphus); fimbriated caudal fin deeply forked, lower lobe much longer than the upper (moderately forked in Hyporhamphus). Euleptorhamphus viridis: body more slender; bases of dorsal and anal fins much longer, fins with many more rays (20 to 25 in dorsal and anal fins). Hyporhamphus dussumieri preorbital ridge no preorbital posterior branch of scaled ridge preorbital canal
preorbital canal without scaleless
posterior branch Hemiramphus Hyporhamphus (Reporhamphus) Hyporhamphus (Hyporhamphus)
Euleptorhamphus Hemiramphus Hyporhamphus SIZE: Maximum: about 29.5 cm standard length (tip of upper jaw to base of caudal fin) plus 5.3 cm beak; common to 19.0 cm standard length.
GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION AND BEHAVIOUR: Within the area, known from the Seychelles, Maldives and Amirante Islands and the coasts of India and Sri Lanka. Also found in the Eastern Indian Ocean and Western Central Pacific extending eastward to the Ryukyu, the Philippines and Tuamotu Islands. Most common around islands and coral reefs.
PRESENT FISHING GROUNDS: Common in the shore seine catches in the Gulf of Manaar and Palk Bay, southeastern India.
CATCHES, FISHING GEAR AND FORMS OF UTILIZATION:
Separate statistics are not reported for this species.
Taken mostly with shore seines.
Marketed fresh and dried salted. HEMIR Hypor 4
1983
FAO SPECIES IDENTIFICATION SHEETS FAMILY: HEMIRAMPHIDAE FISHING AREA 51 (W. Indian Ocean)
Hyporhamphus (Hyporhamphus) limbatus (Valenciennes, 1846)
OTHER SCIENTIFIC NAMES STILL IN USE: Hemiramphus gaimardi Valenciennes, 1846 Hyporhamphus unifasciatus (Ranzani, 1842)
VERNACULAR NAMES: FAO : En - Congaturi halfbeak Fr - Demi-bec congaturi Sp - Agujeta congaturí
NATIONAL:
DISTINCTIVE CHARACTERS:
An elongate fish with a greatly prolonged, beak-like lower jaw, equal to, or longer than head length; upper jaw short, triangular and scaly, its width 0.6 to 0.8 times in its length. Preorbital distance 1.3 to 2.1 times in diameter of orbit and 0.75 to 1.2 times in length of upper jaw; preorbital ridge bony ridge between nasal opening and eye present; posterior branch to preorbital canal absent. Total number of gilirakers on first gill arch 23 to 37, 6 to 11 on upper and 19 to 23 on lower limb of arch. No spines in fins; dorsal and anal fin rays 13 to 16, usually 14 or 15; pectoral fins short, with 10 to 12 rays; caudal fin emargirate, not strongly forked. Anterior part of dorsal and anal fins covered with scales; predorsal scales in front of dorsal fin 30 to 38, usually 32 to 35. Colour: greenish above, the silvery lateral stripe widening posteriorly, white ventrally. Fleshy tip of beak reddish.
DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERS OF SIMILAR SPECIES OCCURRING IN THE AREA:
Hyporhamphus sindensis (only known from the "Gulf" and Pakistan) and Hy. improvisus (South Africa only): preorbital distance shorter, 1.9 to 2.7 times in orbit diameter (1.3 to 2.1 times in Hy. limbatus); pelvic fins more posterior; distance from pelvic fin origin to caudal fin base reaching only to preopercle (at least to orbit in Hy. limbatus). Hy. capensis (South Africa) and Hy. unicuspis: teeth in both jaws mostly unicuspid, except for a few tricuspid teeth near base of upper jaw (teeth all tricuspid in Hy. limbatus) and upper jaw longer, its width contained 0.8 to 1.15 times in its length (0.55 to 0.8 times in Hy. limbatus) .
Hy. xanthopterus (Vembanad lake, Cochin, southwest India): many more gillrakers, 41 to 53 on first arch, 39 to 47 on second arch (23 to 37 and 16 to 28 on these arches in Hy. limbatus) and upper jaw larger, its width contained 0.8 to 1.0 times in its length. Hyporhamphus, subgenus Reporhamphus (Hy. dussumieri: Hy. quoyi; Hy. affinis; Hy. balinensis, Hy. erythrorinchus: upper jaw larger, Mauritius; and Hy. gamberur: Red Sea and Gulf of Aden); all domed have a forked caudal fin with the lower lobe longer than the upper, and a posterior branch to the preorbitai canal. Rhynchorhamphus species: nasal papillae fimbriate (simple in Hyporhamphus); upper jaw large, domed (flatter and Rhynchorhamphus shorter in Hyporhamphus); more gillrakers. 47 to 78 on the first arch (53 or fewer in Hyporhamphus); 2 ascending branches of lateral line (a single ascending branch in Hyporhamphus). Hemiramphus species: upper jaw without scales (scaly in upper jaw smaller, Hyporhamphus); preorbital ridge absent (present in Hyporham- nasal papilla flattened phus; fewer anal fin rays, 10 to 14 (13 to 19 in Hyporhamphus); fimbriated caudal fin deeply forked, lower lobe much longer than the upper (moderately forked in Hyporhamphus). Euleptorhamphus viridis: body more slender; bases of dorsal and anal fins much longer, fins with many more rays (20 to 25 in dorsal anal fins). Hyporhamphus limbatus
posterior branch of no preorbital preorbital preorbital canal ridge ridge scaled
scaleless preorbital canal without Hyporhamphus (Reporhamphus) Hemiramphus posterior branch Hyporhamphus limbatus
Euleptorhamphus Hemiramphus
Hyporhamphus SIZE: Maximum: 22 cm total length, 17 cm standard length (tip of upper jaw to base of caudal fin); common to 13 cm standard length.
GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION AND BEHAVIOUR: Within the area, found from the "Gulf" along the coasts of Pakistan, India and Sri Lanka. Elsewhere, in the Eastern Indian Ocean/Western Central Pacific, eastward to Thailand and northward to China. A coastal species, frequently enters estuaries and even strictly freshwater.
PRESENT FISHING GROUNDS: Taken commercialy in small quantities along the coasts of India.
CATCHES, FISHING GEAR AND FORMS OF UTILIZATION:
Separate statistics are not reported for this species. Taken with castnets on the coasts of India. Marketed fresh and dried salted.
HEMIR Rhyn 1
1983
FAO SPECIES IDENTIFICATION SHEETS
FAMILY: HEMIRAMPHIDAE FISHING AREA 51 (W. Indian Ocean)
Rhynchorhamphus malabaricus Collette, 1976
OTHER SCIENTIFIC NAMES STILL IN USE: Hyporhamphus georgii (Valenciennes, 1846)
VERNACULAR NAMES:
FAO : En - Malabar halfbeak Fr - Demi-bec malabar Sp - Agujeta malabárica
NATIONAL:
DISTINCTIVE CHARACTERS:
An elongate fish with a greatly prolonged, beak-like lower jaw; upper jaw about as long as wide (length divided by width 0.90 to 1.2), domed and covered with scales; preorbital ridge (bony ridge between nasal fossa and eye) present; nasal papilla fimbriate (divided into many small filaments); total number of gillrakers on first arch 57 to 71, usually 60 to 67, 15 to 20 on upper and 46 to 50 on lower limb of arch. No spines in fins; dorsal fin rays 13 scales to 15, usually 14; anal fin rays 12 to 14, usually 13; dorsal plus anal rays 25 to 29, usually 27 or 28; pectoral fins short, with 11 or 12 rays; caudal fin distinctly forked, lower lobe longer than upper. Two branches of lateral line running from ventral outline of fish toward pectoral fin base. upper jaw dorsal view Colour: bluish-green above, silvery white below. Fleshy tip of beak red. nasal papilla DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERS OF SIMILAR SPECIES OCCURRING IN THE AREA:
Rhynchorhamphus arabicus: more gillrakers, 68 to 78 on first arch (57 to 71, usually fewer than 68 in R. malabaricus), 61 to 68 on second arch (52 to 62 in R. malabaricus); known only from the Gulf of Aden.
R. georgii: fewer gillrakers on first arch, 47 to 67, usually less than 62; more dorsal and anal fin rays, dorsal plus anal rays usually 29 or more, ranging from 26 to 32, average 29.2 (usually 28 or less in R. malabaricus, ranging from 25 to 30, average 27.2); upper jaw longer and more domed, its width contained 1.2 to 1.3 times in its length (0.95 to 1.2 times in R. malabaricus). Hemiramphus species. nasal papilla simple (fim- upper jaw smaller, briate in Rhynchorhamphus); upper jaw flat and naked (seal) and domed in Rhynchorhamphus); swimbladder flattened cellular (with a single chamber in Rhynchorhamphus).
Hyporhamphus species: nasal papilla simple; upper jaw flat (doomed in Rhynchorhamphus); a single branch of lateral line under pectoral fin. Hyporhamphus
Euleptorhamphus species bases of dorsal and anal upper jaw larger, fins with many more rays (20 to 25 in dorsal and anal domed fins).
SIZE: Rhynchorhamphus Maximum: about 35 cm total length; 25 cm stan- dard length (from tip of upper jaw to base of caudal fin); common to 20 cm standard length.
GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION AND BEHAVIOUR:
Restricted to the southern third of the Indian Penin- sula, along the Malabar Coast, the Coromandel Coast, and Euleptorhamphus in the Gulf of Manaar and Palk Bay between India and SriLanka. An inshore surface-dwelling fish.
The main diet is the sea grass Cymodocea and green algae; diatoms and polychaetes are also eaten. In the spawning season, the diet is up to 80% pteropods plus bivalve larvae, copepods, decapod larvae, and diatoms. PRESENT FISHING GROUNDS: Rhynchorhamphus malabaricus The fishery is chiefly confined to Palk Bay between southern India and Sri Lanka. CATCHES, FISHING GEAR AND FORMS OF UTILIZATION:
Separate statistics are not reported for this species. The fishery at Theedai in Palk Bay is worth several thousands of rupees annually. An average of 2 to 8 million fish are estimated to be caught per season. The main fishery coincides with the spawning season in March and April; also caught at Vizhinjam on the southwest coast of India. The nets used are the "kara valai" operated from Tuticorin type of boats and the "ola-valai" from dugout canoes. Taken with "kolachi vala" at Vizhinjam.
The Theedai catches are sun-dried on the beach. The major catch is exported to Sri Lanka. Catches at Rameswaram and Pamban are mostly sent by rail to interior fish markets packed with ice.
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