The upper jaw is shorter than the lower in this species, giving it the name "Halfbeak." This is said to be an adaptation for feeding on fallen debris such as insects at the surface of the water. The pale spot at the tip of the beak and the dark line down the midline of the upper jaw help identify it. Another name is "Buffon's River-garfish." It prefers brackish water habitats including river estuaries and mangrove, but also occurs in reef habitats. It ranges throughout much of southeast Asia and the western Pacific.
Panasonic DMC-LX5