Stripe-nosed Halfbeak

Description:

Also known as Buffon's River Garfish. This species grows out to just over 20 cm. It has an elongated cylindrical body with a short tail. The lower jaw is much longer than the upper jaw and has a white tip at the end of it. Colour wise it has silver flanks, an olive dorsal surface with a distinct black pinstripe running the length of its dorsal area, thickening to a broad black band over its head and down the length of its lower jaw.

Habitat:

These fish found in brackish water on the edge of Mangroves at Sungei Buloh in northern Singapore. This species is most often seen on the surface feeding on fallen insects and other edible debris. Also generally seen in shoals feeding together facing the same way into the prevailing current. A fairly common species found throughout much of SE Asia and the Western Pacific.

Notes:

The jaws of this and other similar species have evolved so the fish can easily feed on food matter floating on the surface. Ref: Ecology Asia - Stripe-nosed Halfbeak.