Morphology Data of Hemiramphus far
Identification keys
Abnormalities
Main Ref. Randall, J.E., G.R. Allen and R.C. Steene, 1990
Appearance refers to
Bones in OsteoBase

Sex attributes

Specialized organs
Different appearance
Different colors
Remarks

Descriptive characteristics of juvenile and adult

Striking features striking type of mouth
Body shape lateral elongated
Cross section oval
Dorsal head profile more or less straight
Type of eyes more or less normal
Type of mouth/snout more or less normal
Position of mouth superior
Type of scales
Diagnosis

Greatly prolonged, beak-like lower jaw; upper jaw short, triangular and without scales; preorbital ridge absent; total number of gill rakers on first gill arch 25-36; pectoral fins short, not reaching past nasal pit when folded forward; with 3-9 (usually 4-6) vertical bars on the sides. (Ref. 9843). Color bluish dorsally, silvery on sides. 36-41 predorsal scales. Lower lobe of caudal fin longer than upper lobe. Dorsal and anal fins located posteriorly.

Description: Characterized by dorsal fin yellowish; blue lower lobe and yellowish upper lobe caudal fin; tip of lower jaw, red; depth of body 5.7-7.3 in SL; well developed anterior lobe of dorsal fin; width of body contained 1.3-1.8 in its depth; lower lobe of caudal fin longer than upper (Ref. 90102).

Ease of Identification

Meristic characteristics of Hemiramphus far

Lateral Lines 1 Interrupted: No
Scales on lateral line 50 - 55
Pored lateral line scales
Scales in lateral series
Scale rows above lateral line
Scale rows below lateral line
Scales around caudal peduncle
Barbels 0
Gill clefts (sharks/rays only)
Gill rakers
on lower limb 19 - 26
on upper limb 6 - 10
total 25 - 36
Vertebrae
preanal
total

Fins

Dorsal fin(s)

Attributes no striking attributes
Fins number 1
Finlets No. Dorsal   0 - 0
Ventral  0 - 0
Spines total 0 - 0
Soft-rays total 12 - 15
Adipose fin absent

Caudal fin

Attributes forked; asymmetric

Anal fin(s)

Fins number 1
Spines total 0 - 0
Soft-rays total 10 - 12

Paired fins

Pectoral Attributes  more or less normal
Spines     0
Soft-rays   11 - 13
Pelvics Attributes  more or less normal
Position    abdominal  before origin of D1
Spines     
Soft-rays   
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