Herbivorous fishes of warm seas, mostly living along shore though 
a few pelagic. They feed on minute bits of vegetable matter, especially 
green algae. Like the related sauries, green gars, and flying fishes, 
they swim at the surface, occasionally leaping or skipping along above. 
In size they are rather small, the larger rarely exceeding a foot. 
Though living in all tropical seas some enter fresh water v/hile others 
live exclusively in brackish or fresh waters. 
Analysis of Genera 
JL 
a- , Euleptorhamphiane, Body very slender, compressed, band-likej pec- 
toral fin very long; ventral short, inserted posteriorly.——— 
a . Body moderately compressed, not band-like; pectoral moderate, 
0 , Dorsal begins above or before anal origin, usually longer than 
anal, 
c 
c 1 ,Hemiramphinae, Caudal forked or emarginate; ami not modified; 
oviparoLts, 
d^. Beak without broad cutaneous flap along each side, 
e^. Sides of body mostly convex; air-bladder simple; ventral 
inserted far before dorsal, —---Hyp o r hamphu s , 
2 
e , Sides of body largely flattened; air-bladder cellular; ven¬ 
tral inserted rather close before dorsal,—] 
amphus , 
d , Beak with broad cutaneous flap along each side---—————- 
oilgorhamphu s. 
c , Zensirchopterinae. Caudal truncate or convex behind; anal 
sometimes modified; viviparous. 
Lower jaw extended as beak. 
