Contents Index of fishes General parts of a fish
	Kelvin K P Lim and Peter K L Ng

Family Hemirhamphidae World-wide, marine to freshwater. The surface-dwelling halfbeaks are so-named because the lower jaw is elongated and extends beyond the considerably shorter upper jaw. Head of Hemirhamphodon showing unequal jaw lengths Although they are mainly estuarine fishes, a number of species (one in Singapore) do live exclusively in fresh water. Genus Dermogenys Pygmy Halfbeak Dermogenys pusillus Ikan Julong, Euryhaline; 7 cm; ovoviviparous; carnivorous; gregarious; surface-dwelling. Indigenous, common. Forest and rural streams, reservoirs and mangrove streams. Males may or may not have a red blotch on the dorsal fin, and as in guppies, the front portion of the anal fin is modified into a gonopodium to facilitate internal fertilisation. Young are also born alive. The males tend to get pugnacious towards one another, and in Thailand, it is used as a kind of "low grade fighting fish". It can be separated from the Forest Halfbeak by its smaller size, and having the dorsal fin beginning just behind that of the anal fin. Genus Hemirhamphodon Forest Halfbeak Hemirhamphodon pogonognathus Ikan Julong, Primarily freshwater fish; up to 12 cm; ovoviviparous; carnivorous; gregarious; surface-dwelling. Indigenous, endangered. Forest streams. This often colourful fish has a fleshy appendage at the end of the lower jaw. The upper jaw is short and curved. This exclusively freshwater species can be distinguished from the Pygmy Halfbeak by its more slender build and the dorsal fin beginning before the anal fin. The lower jaw is also toothed throughout its entire length. Dorsal fin of Hemirhamphodon Dorsal fin of Dermogenys

Introduction Freshwater habitats Fishes in Singapore Conservation Amazing Fishy Facts About the guidebook

From A Guide to Common Freshwater Fishes of Singapore by Kelvin K P Lim and Peter K L Ng Published by the Singapore Science Centre and sponsored by BP @Raffles Museum of Biodiversity Research and Singapore Science Centre