It parasitizes the Japanese halfbeak ("Hyporhamphus sajori". It is similar to the Balao halfbeak ("H. balao") in most features. The common halfbeak grows to a length of about . Oxyporhamphus micropterus is a species of halfbeak found in the tropical oceans. Despite being in the viviparous halfbeak family, "Zenarchopterus" species are oviparous. Several, such as the wrestling halfbeak, have become commonly traded aquarium fish. The ballyhoo halfbeak or ballyhoo ("Hemiramphus brasiliensis") is a baitfish of the halfbeak family (Hemiramphidae). Nomorhamphus weberi is a species of viviparous halfbeak endemic to Lake Matano in Sulawesi, Indonesia. The common halfbeak is native to the sub-tropical western Atlantic Ocean. The American halfbeak was named in his honor "Hyporhamphus meeki". The earliest known halfbeak is "Brachyrhamphus bolcensis" from the Eocene at Monte Bolca, Italy. In other words, as traditionally defined, the halfbeak family is paraphyletic. The body shows typical halfbeak shape with an elongated lower jaw and cylindrical elongated body.