Hemiramphus
| Hemiramphus | |
|---|---|
| Hemiramphus brasiliensis | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Beloniformes |
| Family: | Hemiramphidae |
| Genus: | Hemiramphus G. Cuvier, 1816 |
| Type species | |
| Esox brasiliensis Linnaeus, 1758
| |
| Species | |
|
See text. | |
| Synonyms | |
| |
Hemiramphus is a genus of schooling marine fish commonly called halfbeaks, garfish, or ballyhoos, and are members of the family Hemiramphidae. They inhabit the surface of warm temperate and tropical sea, and feed on algae, plankton, and smaller fish. Hemiramphus species are edible but are more important as food fish for larger predatory species including dolphinfish and billfish.