HEMIRAMPHIDAE


Zanarchopterus buffonis, FRLM 30660, 8.4 cm SL

Zenarchopterus buffonis (Valenciennes, 1847)
Buffon's river garfish

D 11 - 13; A 11 - 12; P1 10. Body elongate, subcyrindrical. Lower jaw much prolonged, javelin-like; upper jaw wider than long; nasal papilla elongate and pointed. Base of dorsal fin longer than anal fin base; 4th and/or 5th dorsal ray(s) elongated; anal fin of males without greatly thickened and elongated rays; caudal fin rounded. Color: right brown dorsally, becoming silvery white ventrally; a distinct, longitudinal black line on dorsal midline of upper jaw. Size: 12.5 cm. Distribution: Indo-West Pacific. Remarks: found in coastal marine waters and estuaries, especially mangrove area in protected bays. Surface swimming fish, feeds on small terrestrial insects. Ovoviviparous.