Longfin Garfish, Euleptorhamphus viridis (Hasselt, 1823)

Scientific name: Euleptorhamphus viridis
Alternative name/s:
Long-beaked Garfish, Longfinned Halfbeak.
Longfin Garfish, <i>Euleptorhamphus viridis </i> Click to enlarge image
A Longfin Garfish regurgitated by a striped tuna caught over a bottom depth of 480m, south-east of Browns Mountain, 60 km offshore from Sydney, New South Wales, January 2006. Image: Dale Welham
© Dale Welham

Fast Facts

  • Classification
    Genus
    Euleptorhamphus
    Species
    viridis
    Family
    Hemiramphidae
    Order
    Beloniformes
    Class
    Actinopterygii
    Subphylum
    Vertebrata
    Phylum
    Chordata
    Kingdom
    Animalia
  • Size Range
    The species grows to about 60 cm in length.

Introduction

The Longfin Garfish is a long slender, silvery-coloured fish with an extremely long lower jaw and a short upper jaw.

Identification

The Longfin Garfish has an elongate ribbon-like body and an extremely long lower jaw. The species is often mistaken for a flying fish because of its very long pectoral fins and gliding ability.

Habitat

It is a pelagic species that occurs in inshore and oceanic waters.

Distribution

The Longfin Garfish occurs in the temperate Indo-Pacific. In Australia it is known from south-western Western Australia, around the tropical north of the country and south to the southern coast of New South Wales.

The map below shows the Australian distribution of the species based on public sightings and specimens in Australian Museums. Click on the map for detailed information. Source: Atlas of Living Australia.

References

  1. Allen, G.R. 1997. Marine Fishes of Tropical Australia and South-east Asia. Western Australian Museum. Pp. 292.
  2. Hoese, D.F., Bray, D.J., Paxton, J.R. & G.R. Allen. 2006. Fishes. In Beesley, P.L. & A. Wells. (eds) Zoological Catalogue of Australia. Volume 35. ABRS & CSIRO Publishing: Australia. parts 1-3, pages 1-2178.
  3. Hutchins, B. & R. Swainston. 1986. Sea Fishes of Southern Australia. Complete Field Guide for Anglers and Divers. Swainston Publishing. Pp. 180.