Hyporhamphus australis (Steindachner, 1866)
Description
Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 15 - 17; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 17 - 20; Vertebrae: 56 - 58. Preorbital canal with a posterior branch. Relatively longer jaws, especially at larger sizes. Gill rakers usually 34 or more in the first arch and usually 27 or more on the second arch.
Common Names
Taxonomic Hierarchy
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Teleostei
Order: Beloniformes
Family: Hemiramphidae
Genus: Hyporhamphus
Species: Hyporhamphus australis (Steindachner, 1866)
Climate Zone
Location
Biology
Found in sheltered bays, clear coastal waters and sometimes in estuaries (Ref. 27012). Generally herbivorous. Feed mainly on seagrasses and algal filaments (Ref. 26551, 27013). Eastern sea garfish also consume a high proportion of crustaceans (Ref. 27013). A schooling fish, found generally near the surface at night and close to the sea floor over seagrass beds during the day (Ref. 6390). They are being preyed upon by mulloway (Argyrosomus hololepidotus) and tailor (Pomatomus saltatrix), as well as coastal water birds. No studies have been reported on the spawning of this species (Ref. 6390).
Habitat
brackish