Exocoetus obtusirostris
Oceanic Two-Wing Flyingfish
NS
GNR
Collection Details
Specimens
Photos
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Records
Taxonomic Hierarchy
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned Fishes)
Beloniformes
Exocoetidae (Flyingfishes)
Exocoetus
Exocoetus obtusirostris (Oceanic Two-Wing Flyingfish)
Description
This species account was compiled from
Composite (multiple sources) (McEachran, J.D. and J.D. Fechhelm. Fishes of the Gulf of Mexico. University of Texas Press, Austin.)
and processed using AI-assisted text extraction.
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Characters
Snout shorter than eye diameter; mouth oblique, not reaching anterior margin of eye; lower jaw extends slightly beyond upper jaw; jaw and palatine teeth absent; gill rakers on first arch 24-29; snout length 4.4-5.4% SL; head length 23.5-26.6% SL; eye diameter 6.6-8.3% SL; interdorsal width 8-9.7% SL; body depth 18.8-22.4% SL; snout to dorsal fin origin 66-70% SL; snout to pelvic fin origin 39.9-43.1% SL; snout to anal fin origin 66.1-69.4% SL; pectoral fin length 71.3-77.7% SL; pelvic fin length 12.3-14.8% SL; pectoral fin with 16 or 17 rays, extending beyond dorsal fin base; dorsal fin low (7.2-11.3% SL) with 13 or 14 rays; anal fin with 13-15 rays, originating slightly anterior to dorsal fin origin; scales above lateral line 7; predorsal scales 18-21; vertebrae 44
Iridescent blue dorsally and silvery ventrally, with fins grayish to transparent
Distribution
New Jersey to southern Brazil, including the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea
Habitat Associations
Oceanic, tropical Atlantic and subtropical South Pacific; not frequently captured near shore
Pelagic
Biology
Maximum known size is 200 mm SL
Eggs are pelagic and lack filaments
Occurs in surface waters, both near and far from the coast (Ref. 5217). Capable of leaping out of the water and gliding for considerable distances above the surface.
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC), assessed 2013-01-29. Resilience: High (Preliminary K or Fecundity.).
Phylogeny and Morphologically Similar Fishes
Distinguished from other species of the family by the combination of characters
Commercial or Environmental Importance
Fisheries: of no interest.
References
Bruun 1935
Hoese and Moore 1977
Parin 1986
C. R. Robins et al. 1986
Cervigon 1991
Boschung 1992
Breder, C.M. and D.E. Rosen (1966) Modes of reproduction in fishes. T.F.H. Publications, Neptune City, New Jersey. 941 p.
Cervigón, F., R. Cipriani, W. Fischer, L. Garibaldi, M. Hendrickx, A.J. Lemus, R. Márquez, J.M. Poutiers, G. Robaina and B. Rodriguez (1992) Fichas FAO de identificación de especies para los fines de la pesca. Guía de campo de las especies comerciales marinas y de aquas salobres de la costa septentrional de Sur América. FAO, Rome. 513 p. Preparado con el financiamento de la Comisión de Comunidades Europeas y de NORAD.
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.
Parin, N.V. (1999) Exocoetidae. Flyingfishes. p. 2162-2179. In K.E. Carpenter and V.H. Niem (eds.) FAO species identification guide for fishery purposes. The living marine resources of the WCP. Vol. 4. Bony fishes part 2 (Mugilidae to Carangidae). FAO, Rome.
Parin, N.V. (1996) On the species composition of flying fishes (Exocoetidae) in the West-Central part of tropical Pacific. J. Ichthyol. 36(5):357-364.
Comments On Exocoetus obtusirostris