Hemiramphidae - Halfbeak

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.

There are currently eight genera within the family Hemirampphidae:

Arrhamphus Günther, 1866
Chriodorus Goode & Bean, 1882
Euleptorhamphus Gill, 1859
Hemiramphus Cuvier, 1816
Hyporhamphus Gill, 1859
Melapedalion Fowler, 1934
Oxyporhamphus Gill, 1864
Rhynchorhamphus Fowler, 1928