HEMIRAMPHIDAE


Zenarchopterus dunckeri, 7.7 cm SL
(photo by Seishi Kimura)


Zenarchopterus dunckeri
Mohr, 1926
Duncker's River Garfish

D 10-12; A 10-13; 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; 6th anal ray of males greatly thickened and elongated, reaching beyond caudal base; 4th and/ or 5th dorsal ray(s) elongated; caudal fin rounded. Vertebrae 37-42. Color: right brown dorsally, becoming silvery white ventrally; no longitudinal black line on dorsal midline of upper jaw. Size: 12.5 cm SL. Distribution: Andaman Sea and West Pacific. Remarks: found in estuaries, especially mangrove area. Surface swimming fish, feeds on small terrestrial insects.