Species: Hemiramphus brasiliensis, Ballyhoo halfbeak

Hemiramphus brasiliensis (Linnaeus, 1758)

Ballyhoo 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 28-36 (average 31.2), 7-10 + 20-26; dorsal and anal fins are at the rear of the body, with bases about opposite one another; dorsal rays 12-15 (usually 13-14); anal rays 12-14 (usually 13); pelvic fins are under the rear of the abdomen; pectoral fins high on the sides, pectoral rays 10-12 (usually 11), fins short, not reaching nasal opening when folded forward; tail fin deeply forked, lower lobe much larger; lateral line low on side of body; scales large and smooth.