Halfbeak

Halfbeak Temporal range: Eocene–Recent PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N
Ballyhoo (Hemiramphus brasiliensis), a marine halfbeak
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	Beloniformes
Superfamily:	Exocoetoidea
Family:	Hemiramphidae T. N. Gill, 1859
Genera
see text

Hemiramphidae is a family of fishes that are commonly called halfbeaks, spipe fish or spipefish. They 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.