Cheilopogon heterurus
Blotchwing Flyingfish
Collection Details
Specimens
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Records
Taxonomic Hierarchy
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned Fishes)
Beloniformes
Exocoetidae (Flyingfishes)
Cheilopogon
Cheilopogon heterurus (Blotchwing Flyingfish)
Description
This species account was compiled from
Composite (multiple sources) (Carpenter, K.E. (ed.) 2002. The living marine resources of the Western Central Atlantic. FAO Species Identification Guide for Fishery Purposes. FAO, Rome.)
and processed using AI-assisted text extraction.
It may contain errors in spelling, punctuation, or formatting.
When citing, please reference the original source rather than this page.
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Synonymy
None / None.
Characters
Body elongate,
nearly rectangular in cross-section, almost
flat ventr ally. Depth 5.3 to 6.6 in st andard
length. Head length 4.3 to 4.9 in st andard
length. Lower jaw slightly projecting beyond
the upper with mouth closed. Jaw teeth dimin-
utive, mostly conical. Palatine teeth absent.
Gill rakers on first arch 19 to 26. Dorsal fin
low, with 12 to 15 soft rays. Anal fin with 8
to 10 soft rays, originating under fifth to
seventh dorsal fin ray. Pectoral fins 1.3 to
juvenile
1.5 in st andard length, with 16 to 18 soft
rays, first ray unbranched. Pelvic fins 2.7 to
3.3 in st andard length, inserted ne arer to posterior margin of opercle than origin of caudal-fin base. Ju-
veniles with paired chin barbels consisting of firm pointed stem and skin fold along the outer margin, barbel
length more than 8, usu ally 10 to 25 times in st andard length (barbels lost at about 80 to 90 mm st andard
length). Scales in transverse row 7 to 9. Predorsal scales 29 to 38. Vertebrae 46 to 50, usu ally 47 to 49. Colour:
body dark above, pale below. Dorsal and caudal fins greyish; anal fin transp arent; pectoral fins light to dark
greyish, with indefinite pale triangular crossb and and narrow outer margin, pelvic fins unpigmented. Juveniles
less than 100 to 150 mm st andard length with 3 transverse vertical b ands on anterior part of body; dorsal and
anal fins with dark markings; pectoral fins pale with dark blotches and curved b ands; pelvic fins also with dark
blotches and b ands.
Body shape: elongated.
Distribution
In the western Atlantic known only
from off Bermuda. Disjunct population occurs in
the western Mediterranean Sea, along the shores
of southwestern Europe (occasional specimens
as far north as Denmark and sou thern Norway)
and northwestern Africa, and off the Azores.
Habitat Associations
neritic species,
r arely found offshore. Feeds on zooplankton. Ma-
ture at 280 to 300 mm st andard length. Spawns
near shore. Eggs demersal.
Biology
Maximum to 35 cm st andard length (about
45 cm total length).
Pelagic, coastal species which can fly over long distances. It is thought that this behavior is a means to escape danger. This flying fish is not commercially exploited although it is very good to eat (Ref. 5377). Spawns during summer in Italian waters. Eggs with filaments over the entire surface (Ref. 6523).
Reproductive mode: dioecism; fertilization: external; nonguarders; parental care: none.
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC), assessed 2013-01-28. Resilience: High (Preliminary K or Fecundity.).
Commercial or Environmental Importance
Not known to be a
commercial fish.
References
Breder, C.M. and D.E. Rosen (1966) Modes of reproduction in fishes. T.F.H. Publications, Neptune City, New Jersey. 941 p.
Bauchot, M.-L. (1987) Poissons osseux. p. 891-1421. In W. Fischer, M.L. Bauchot and M. Schneider (eds.) Fiches FAO d'identification pour les besoins de la pêche. (rev. 1). Méditerranée et mer Noire. Zone de pêche 37. Vol. II. Commission des Communautés Européennes and FAO, Rome.
Maigret, J. and B. Ly (1986) Les poissons de mer de Mauritanie. Science Nat., Compiègne. 213 p.
Parin, N.V. (1986) Exocoetidae. p. 612-619. In P.J.P. Whitehead, M.-L. Bauchot, J.-C. Hureau, J. Nielsen and E. Tortonese (eds.) Fishes of the north-eastern Atlantic and the Mediterranean. UNESCO, Paris. Vol. 2.
Lipskaya, N.Y. (1987) Feeding of flyingfish (Exocoetidae) larvae and fingerlings in the region of the Peruvian upwelling. J. Ichthyol. 27(3):108-116.
Comments On Cheilopogon heterurus