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Balaos or Half-beaks
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HERBIVOROUS fishes of warm seas; mostly shore species, a few pelagic. They feed chiefly on green algae and, like the related forms, swim at the surface, occasionally leaping in the air. Species of rather small size, rarely exceeding a foot in length. Genera about 7;species about 75. Within our limits there are 4 genera and about 11 species. Most of them are of some food value. This family is doubtfully distinct from Exocaetidae and the 2 should be combined.
The genus Chriodorus contains a single species (C. atherinoides) which occurs among the Florida Keys. It is abundant at Key West. It reaches a length of 10 inches and is an excellent little panfish.
The genus Hyporhamphus contains numerous species in all warm seas. They are all known as half-beaks and swim in large schools usually near shore, where they feed chiefly on green algae. There are 3 species in our waters, all small and not much used as food, though the flavour is excellent. The common half-beak (H. roberti), of which we give a figure, occurs on both coasts of America, north to Rhode Island and Lower California. It reaches a foot in length.
The balaos (genus Hemiramphus) have the body compressed and the sides nearly parallel and vertical. There are 2 species in our waters, both occurring in the West Indies.
The genus Euleptorhamphus has the body more slender and more compressed, and the pectoral fins longer. Only 1 species, found in the West Indies, and reaching a length of 2 feet.