Family : Hemiramphidae (Halfbeaks) , subfamily: Zenarchopterinae
Order : Beloniformes  (needle fishes)
Class : Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes)
Fishbase Name : Viviparous halfbeak
Fish Name : Zenarchopterus gilli
Max size : 20.0 cm TL (male/unsexed; Ref. 4833)
Environment : reef-associated; amphidromous
Climate : tropical
Global Importance :
Resilience: High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Preliminary K or Fecundity.)Distribution : Indo-Pacific: Madagascar, Mozambique, Seychelles Island, Andaman Islands, East Indies, Caroline Islands, Fiji, Guam and northern Australia. Also India (Ref. 43081)
Diagnosis : Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Anal spines: 0-0; Vertebrae: 38-39. Upper jaw about as long as wide. Top of snout uniform brown. Sixth anal ray of males greatly enlarged and elongated, reaching the tip of the caudal fin in adults. Fourth dorsal ray of adult males elongated, thickened distally, curving back to the base of the caudal fin. Vertebrae 38-39. Dorsal rays 10 in females and 11 or 12 in males. Anal rays 10-12 in females and 13 in males.
Biology : Found mainly in marine waters, but enter estuaries and tidal rivers (Ref. 4833) and mangrove areas (Ref. 48635)
Threatened : Dangerous:  
Dangerous : harmless
Coordinator : Collette, Bruce B.
Main Ref : Collette, B.B.. 1974. (Ref. 10988)

India country information
Common Names : Viviparous halfbeak
Status : native
Salinity : brackish, marine
Uses : no uses