Halfbeak

Hemiramphidae Temporal range: Eocene–Recent PreЄ Є O S D C P T J K Pg N
A marine halfbeak, the ballyhoo, Hemiramphus brasiliensis
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	Beloniformes
Suborder:	Belonoidei
Superfamily:	Exocoetoidea
Family:	Hemiramphidae T. N. Gill, 1859
Genera
Arrhamphus Chriodorus Euleptorhamphus Hemiramphus Hyporhamphus Melapedalion Oxyporhamphus Rhynchorhamphus

The halfbeaks (family Hemiramphidae) are a geographically widespread and numerically abundant family of epipelagic fish inhabiting warm waters around the world. The halfbeaks are named for their distinctive jaws, in which the lower jaws are significantly longer than the upper jaws. The similar viviparous halfbeaks (family Zenarchopteridae) have often been included in this family.

Though not commercially important themselves, these forage fish support artisanal fisheries and local markets worldwide. They are also fed upon by other commercially important predatory fishes, such as billfishes, mackerels, and sharks.

In 1775, Carl Linnaeus was the first to scientifically describe a halfbeak, Esox brasiliensis. In 1775 Peter Forsskål described two more species as Esox, Esox far and Esox marginatus. It was not until 1816 that Georges Cuvier created the genus Hemiramphus; from then on, all three were classified as Hemiramphus. In 1859, Gill erected Hemiramphidae, deriving its name from Hemiramphus, the family's type genus. The name comes from the Greek hemi, meaning half, and rhamphos, meaning beak or bill.