Latin Etymology: Zenarchopterus ("life giving anus fin") buffonis (for George-Louis Leclerc, Comte de Buffon)
Adult Stripe-nosed Halfbeak (Zenarchopterus buffonis) at Sungei Buloh, Singapore - February 2019
Featured Subspecies: ?
Weight: ? / Length: 23cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Not Yet Evaluated
A bizarre looking fish, almost looks like it was made up in a child's drawing, the Stripenosed Halfbeak is another mangrove specialist seen in Sungei Buloh. Despite it's improbable appearance, it has an impressive range, spread from the Indian subcontinent to Northern Australia. The halfbeaks have one particular fascinating biological quirk; they have no stomachs, and thus a very different digestive system than most vertebrates, although I've unfortunately struggled to find much about this beyond "uses a lot of enzymes".
Related Species:
Order: Beloniformes
Family: Hemiramphidae
Genus: Zenarchopterus
SUBSPECIES: none - monotypic
- Sighting Locations -
Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto
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