The Balaos or Half-beaks
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.