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Polynesian Halfbeak

Hemiramphus depauperatus

  • Fish
  • IUCN: Not evaluated
  • Usual depth1 m
  • Water temperature25–29 °C
  • Best monthsJanuary, September, and December
  • How commonRare
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Photo credit: (c) cello caruso-turiello, some rights reserved (CC BY) · CC BY · iNaturalist

About this species

Hemiramphus depauperatus, commonly known as the Polynesian halfbeak is a species of fish, belonging to the family Hemiramphidae found in the Pacific Ocean. The species was first misidentified as Hemiramphus eclancheri by Alvin Seale in 1906, further identified by Henry Weed Fowler to be considered Hemiramphus brasiliensis. It has since been corrected to Hemiramphus depauperatus.

Text from the Wikipedia article “Hemiramphus depauperatus”, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the article

Where and when

Where it has been recorded

Worldwide

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Best months

Worldwide (open data)

  • January: 7 records
  • February: 3 records
  • March: 3 records
  • April: 2 records
  • May: 1 records
  • June: 0 records
  • July: 0 records
  • August: 4 records
  • September: 5 records
  • October: 3 records
  • November: 1 records
  • December: 7 records

Depth and water temperature

Depth

Mostly recorded at 1 m · Deepest record: 1 m

  • 0–10 m: 1 records

Water temperature

Recorded in surface water of 25–29 °C

  • 24–26 °C: 5 records
  • 26–28 °C: 2 records
  • 28–30 °C: 1 records

Names and classification

English
Polynesian Halfbeak, Tropical Halfbeak
Names in 1 more languages
French
Demi-bec polynésien

Other scientific names: Hemirhamphus depauperatus

Similar species

Sources and credits

Names and taxonomy: WoRMS (CC BY 4.0) and the GBIF Backbone (CC BY 4.0). Photos: iNaturalist observers, each under the licence shown (CC0, CC BY or CC BY-SA).

  • Depth, temperature, months and maps: records from OBIS and GBIF under CC0 or CC BY.
  • Descriptions: Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA, each linked to its article.
  • Conservation status as published by GBIF (IUCN Red List).
  • 37 open-data records from 1902 to 2009.
  • Species data updated November 3, 2026.

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