Author: (Valenciennes, 1846)
Hyporhamphus picarti (Valenciennes, 1846)
Status in World Register of Marine Species:
Accepted name: Hyporhamphus picarti (Valenciennes, 1847) (updated 2009-06-25)
Diagnosis: body slightly compressed, oval in cross-section. Caudal fin emarginate (subgenus Hyporhamphus). Triangular portion of upper jaw covered with scales. Pectoral branch of lateral line single. Preorbital ridge present. Inner pelvic finray no longer than the other rays. Dorsal finrays 13-16; anal finrays 13-17; pectoral finrays 10 12. No scales covering dorsal and anal fins. Gillrakers 28-36 (usually 30-34) on first arch and 22-25 on second arch. Vertebrae 46-49. Pelvic fins inserted far posteriorly. Colour: juveniles without any body bars at any size and without any prominent black areas in any of fins. Size: to 14 cm.
Habitat: epipelagic in coastal waters and mouths of harbours and estuaries. Behaviour: schooling, attracted to lights at night. Food: no data. Reproduction: probably in shallow inshore waters; eggs attach to aquatic vegetation by sticky threads.
Distribution: in the Mediterranean and off West Africa southwards to Angola.
Eggs, larvae and young stages. No data.
Otoliths (sagitta). No data.