Species: Hemiramphus balao, Balao, Balao Halfbeak

Hemiramphus balao Lesueur, 1821

Balao, Balao Halfbeak

Elongate and slender; no teeth; lower jaw extended into a long beak; upper jaw short, triangular, scaleless; nostrils in a pit before eye; no ridge just before eye; gill rakers 35-37 (31-39), 7-10 + 22-29; dorsal and anal fins are at the rear of the body, with bases about opposite one another; dorsal rays 11-15 (usually 13-14); anal rays 10-13 (usually 11-12); pelvic fins are under the rear of the abdomen; pectoral fins high on the sides, pectoral rays 10-12 (usually 11), fins reaching beyond nasal pit when folded forward; tail fin deeply forked, lower lobe much larger; lateral line low on side of body; scales large and smooth.

Bluish on back, silvery on side of head and body, and white ventrally; fleshy tip of lower jaw red; upper tail lobe bluish violet.

Size: grows to 40 cm.

Habitat: surface inshore waters.

Depth: 0-5 m?

New York to Brazil.