ZENARCHOPTERUS DISPAR - (VALENCIENNES, 1847)
Actinopterygii (Gigaclass) > Actinopteri (Class) > Teleostei (Subclass) > Beloniformes (Order) > Zenarchopteridae (Family) > Zenarchopterus (Genus)
Hémiramphe dissemblable, Estuarine halfbeak, Feathered river-garfish, Spoon-fin garfish, Spoonfin river garfish, Viviparous garfish, Viviparous half beak, Halbschnabelhecht, 匙鳍异鳞鱵, سوزنماهی بالهقاشقی,
Synonymes
Hemiramphus dispar (Valenciennes, 1847)
Zenarchopterus beccarii (Vinciguerra, 1926)
Zenarchopterus maculosus (Garman, 1903)
Zenarchopterus vaisiganus (Jordan & Seale, 1906)
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Description
Dorsal soft rays (total): 11-12; Anal soft rays: 12-13; Pectoral fin rays: 9-10; Vertebrae: 28 + 14-15 = 42-43. Gill rakers on first arch: 4-5 +11-14 = 15-18; Gill rakers on second arch: 1-2 + 11-14 = 13-15. Upper jaw distinctly wider than long (width divided by length: 1.0-1.2); Lower jaw much longer than head (Head Long divided by lower jaw length: 0.5-0.7); Pectoral fins shorter than head (Head Long divided by pectoral fin length: 1.3-1.6). Adult males with 6th and 7th anal fin rays thickened and elongate, both rays reaching well beyond caudal fin base, and 4th and/or 5th dorsal fin rays elongate and thickened. Predorsal scales: 29-36. Caudal fin rounded. Max. length: 19.0 cm TL. Depth range: 0 - 3 m.
Color
Body silvery, olive-brown dorsally; Snout uniformly brown (no dark band on midline); Median fins with yellow tinge.
Etymology
Zenarchopterus: from particle zen, derived from zao = to give life + from Greek, archos = anus + from Greek, pteron = fin.
dispar: from Latin, dissimilis = unlike, different, disparate, unequal. Referring to unusual anal fin of males, strikingly different from male anal fins of presumed congeners in Hemiramphus (Valenciennes was apparently unaware that modified anal fin rays (andropodium) is an intromittent organ).
Original description: Hemiramphus dispar Valenciennes, 1847 - Type localities: Labouane River, Java, Indonesia + Madagascar + Molucca Islands, Indonesia.
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: East Africa, Seychelles, Aldabra (Seychelles) and Madagascar, east to Fiji and Samoa, north to Ryukyu Islands (Japan), south to northern Australia and New Caledonia.
Biology
Inhabit shallow water around mangrove in sheltered bays. Early juveniles are neustonic and float on the surface of estuarine mangroves.
Similar species
Zenarchopterus buffonis (Valenciennes, 1847) - Reported from Indo-West Pacific: India east to Philippines and New Guinea, north to Taiwan, south to northern Australia. A prominent dark brown stripe along the midline of the snout.
Hémiramphe dissemblable, Estuarine halfbeak, Feathered river-garfish, Spoon-fin garfish, Spoonfin river garfish, Viviparous garfish, Viviparous half beak, Halbschnabelhecht, 匙鳍异鳞鱵, سوزنماهی بالهقاشقی,
Synonymes
Hemiramphus dispar (Valenciennes, 1847)
Zenarchopterus beccarii (Vinciguerra, 1926)
Zenarchopterus maculosus (Garman, 1903)
Zenarchopterus vaisiganus (Jordan & Seale, 1906)
---------------------------
Description
Dorsal soft rays (total): 11-12; Anal soft rays: 12-13; Pectoral fin rays: 9-10; Vertebrae: 28 + 14-15 = 42-43. Gill rakers on first arch: 4-5 +11-14 = 15-18; Gill rakers on second arch: 1-2 + 11-14 = 13-15. Upper jaw distinctly wider than long (width divided by length: 1.0-1.2); Lower jaw much longer than head (Head Long divided by lower jaw length: 0.5-0.7); Pectoral fins shorter than head (Head Long divided by pectoral fin length: 1.3-1.6). Adult males with 6th and 7th anal fin rays thickened and elongate, both rays reaching well beyond caudal fin base, and 4th and/or 5th dorsal fin rays elongate and thickened. Predorsal scales: 29-36. Caudal fin rounded. Max. length: 19.0 cm TL. Depth range: 0 - 3 m.
Color
Body silvery, olive-brown dorsally; Snout uniformly brown (no dark band on midline); Median fins with yellow tinge.
Etymology
Zenarchopterus: from particle zen, derived from zao = to give life + from Greek, archos = anus + from Greek, pteron = fin.
dispar: from Latin, dissimilis = unlike, different, disparate, unequal. Referring to unusual anal fin of males, strikingly different from male anal fins of presumed congeners in Hemiramphus (Valenciennes was apparently unaware that modified anal fin rays (andropodium) is an intromittent organ).
Original description: Hemiramphus dispar Valenciennes, 1847 - Type localities: Labouane River, Java, Indonesia + Madagascar + Molucca Islands, Indonesia.
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: East Africa, Seychelles, Aldabra (Seychelles) and Madagascar, east to Fiji and Samoa, north to Ryukyu Islands (Japan), south to northern Australia and New Caledonia.
Biology
Inhabit shallow water around mangrove in sheltered bays. Early juveniles are neustonic and float on the surface of estuarine mangroves.
Similar species
Zenarchopterus buffonis (Valenciennes, 1847) - Reported from Indo-West Pacific: India east to Philippines and New Guinea, north to Taiwan, south to northern Australia. A prominent dark brown stripe along the midline of the snout.
Last update: 20, September 2024