In some years in August-September, you could observe schools of small sharp-nosed fishes swimming unhurriedly at the very water surface. This is the so-called Japanese half-mug species. Unlike its relatives living in tropical and subtropical waters, it inhabits moderately warm waters, and in summer time visits Southern Primorye. The fish received its name because of its non-uniformly developed jaws: the upper jaw is short and the lower one considerably elongated. Saving itself from predators, the fish can jump to the surface to leave in the water only the lower part of its caudal fin, and to rapidly glide to thereby cover large distances. Species close to tropical Hyporhanphus sajori can even glide under water. The Japanese species are up to 30 cm long. The fish reproduce off the shores of Japan and Korea at temperatures ranging from 18 to 25oC. The roes are characterized by long sticky thread-like growths, with which they attach themselves to underwater vegetation. The flesh of this species is rather tasty, but the speciesТ commercial significance is not great.