Balao halfbeak facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Balao halfbeak |
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The Balao halfbeak (Hemiramphus balao), sometimes called the Balao, is a fascinating ocean fish. It belongs to a group of fish called the Hemiramphidae family. A French scientist named Charles Alexandre Lesueur first described this fish in 1821. People often use Balao halfbeaks as bait for sport fishing. They are great for catching bigger fish like sailfish and marlin.
What the Balao Halfbeak Looks Like
The Balao halfbeak looks a lot like its cousin, the ballyhoo (H. brasiliensis). One way to tell them apart is by measuring. Look at the distance from its nostrils (called nares) to the start of its side fins (called pectoral fins). For the Balao halfbeak, this distance is less than the length of its pectoral fin.
These fish do not have sharp spines on their fins. Instead, they have soft rays. Their top fin (the dorsal fin) has 11 to 15 rays. Their bottom fin near the tail (the anal fin) has 10 to 13 rays. Balao halfbeaks have blue-gray skin on their backs. Their bellies are shiny silver or white. The longest Balao halfbeak ever found was about 40 centimeters long. That's about the length of a school ruler!
Where Balao Halfbeaks Live
Balao halfbeaks live only in the Atlantic Ocean. On the western side, you can find them from New York all the way south to Brazil. This includes the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea. On the eastern side of the Atlantic, they live near the Canary Islands. They are also found in the Gulf of Guinea, from Nigeria to Angola. They have even been seen near Côte d'Ivoire.
These fish often swim together in large groups called schools. They eat smaller fish and tiny ocean creatures called zooplankton. Balao halfbeaks can live in both brackish water (a mix of fresh and salty water) and marine water (full ocean salt water). They often hang out near coral reefs.
Even though they are mostly used as bait, people in the West Indies also eat Balao halfbeaks. Other animals like the brown noddy and the sooty tern also hunt and eat Balao halfbeaks.
