Barred Garfish

Greatly prolonged, beak-like lower jaw; upper jaw short, triangular and without scales; preorbital ridge absent; total number of gill rakers on first gill arch 25-36; pectoral fins short, not reaching past nasal pit when folded forward; with 3-9 (usually 4-6) vertical bars on the sides. (Ref. 9843). Color bluish dorsally, silvery on sides. 36-41 predorsal scales. Lower lobe of caudal fin longer than upper lobe. Dorsal and anal fins located posteriorly.Description: Characterized by dorsal fin yellowish; blue lower lobe and yellowish upper lobe caudal fin; tip of lower jaw, red; depth of body 5.7-7.3 in SL; well developed anterior lobe of dorsal fin; width of body contained 1.3-1.8 in its depth; lower lobe of caudal fin longer than upper (Ref. 90102).

Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 12 - 15; Analspines: 0; Analsoft rays: 10 - 12

Surface-dwelling omnivores. Lives in coastal waters of high islands and continental shorelines (Ref. 1602); also inhabits coral reefs (Ref. 1937, 58534). Present in seagrass beds at all life stages (Ref. 41878). Feeds on fish, plants, and zooplankton (Refs. 1602, 127989). Schooling species. Epipelagic inshore (Ref. 127989).

Occur in coastal waters of high islands and continental shorelines; generally in areas rich in vegetation (Ref. 5213) and sand flats (Ref. 48635). Form schools. Adults feed mainly on seagrasses, to a lesser extent on green algae and diatoms (Ref. 9843). Breed in estuaries (Ref. 4164). Marketed fresh and dried salted (Ref. 5284, 9843); meat tasty (Ref. 637). Also caught with dragnets (Ref. 30573) and dipnets.

fisheries: commercial; gamefish: yes; bait: occasionally