Asian Pencil Halfbeak

Long upper jaw and many vertebrae (47-54) and predorsal scales (48-63). Lower jaw shorter than head length.

Amphidromous. Refers to fishes that regularly migrate between freshwater and the sea (in both directions), but not for the purpose of breeding, as in anadromous and catadromous species. Sub-division of diadromous. Migrations should be cyclical and predictable and cover more than 100 km.Characteristic elements in amphidromy are: reproduction in fresh water, passage to sea by newly hatched larvae, a period of feeding and growing at sea usually a few months long, return to fresh water of well-grown juveniles, a further period of feeding and growing in fresh water, followed by reproduction there (Ref. 82692).

Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 13 - 17; Analspines: 0; Analsoft rays: 14 - 19; Vertebrae: 47 - 54

Inhabits coral reefs (Ref. 58534). Enters estuaries and freshwater. Feeds on zooplankton. Also in Ref. 9137.

Enters estuaries and freshwater. Feeds on zooplankton.

fisheries: commercial

主要分布於西北太平洋區，包括臺灣、日本、及中國大陸等沿海。臺灣分布於北部。

罕見魚種，且魚體小型，不具食用價值。

體細長，側扁，標準體長為頭長之之4.3-5.7倍，為體高之11.8-14.0倍。鼻孔突不呈絲狀。下頜延長成喙狀，喙長略等於頭長；上頜短小，其頂部呈三角形，被鱗，三角形之長大於寬，長為寬的1.1-1.3倍。眼前溝單一，不向後分支。上下頜具微細單峰齒，但下頜之後部具三峰齒。第一鰓弓上鰓耙26-36。體被圓鱗；側線位低，於胸鰭基底下方具一向上分支，向上延伸至胸鰭基底；背前鱗50-64。鰾為單室型。背鰭與臀鰭對在，後位，臀鰭起點在背鰭第1-3軟條之下方，背鰭具13-16軟條，臀鰭具15-19軟條；胸鰭較短，標準體長為胸鰭長之6.4-7.1倍；腹鰭短小，胸鰭基底至腹鰭基底之間距為腹鰭基底至尾鰭下葉基底之0.9-1.15倍；尾鰭淺開叉，下葉略長於上葉。體背呈淺灰藍，腹部白色，體側中間有一條銀白色縱帶，無垂直暗斑；喙為黑色，前端具明亮之橘紅色。

主要棲息沿岸水域表層，成群洄游，可進入河口區及河川下游。以水層中的浮游動物為主食。