| Exocoetidae (Flyingfishes) |
| 24 cm SL (male/unsexed) |
|
pelagic-oceanic; marine; depth range - 0 m |
| Atlantic Ocean. NW Atlantic (Massachussetts south along the US) Bermuda, the Bahamas ad throughout the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea. East of 30° W are extremely rare and could possibly represent strays of H. rondeletti. Confirmed to occur in Portugal, the Azores and Canary Islands. |
|
Dorsal soft rays (total): 10-13; Anal soft rays: 10-13; Vertebrae: 44-47. This species is distinguished by the following characters: elongated body nearly rectangular in cross-section, almost flat ventrally; its depth 5.2-6.4 times in standard length (SL): vertebrae 44-47; predorsal scales 25-31; scales in transverse row 6.5 to 8.5, usually 7.5; head 4.2-5.2 times in SL;
eye 3.1-3.3 times in head; jaws subequal, the teeth conspicuous, conical; no palatine teeth; gill rakers on first arch 24-29; low dorsal fin with 10-13 rays; anal fin with 10-13 rays, originating
slightly before, or 1 to 2 rays behind dorsal-fin origin; pectoral fins 1.2-1.4 times in SL, with 16-19 rays and the first two rays unbranched; pelvic fins 2.5-3.4 times in SL, inserted slightly nearer to posterior margin of opercle than origin of caudal-fin base; juveniles are not barbelled; colour of body dark above, pale below, the dorsal and caudal fins greyish and anal fin transparent; pectoral fins black without unpigmented cross-band and with a narrow light outer margin; pelvic fins usually with black spot. Juveniles less than 5,0 cm SL have a few dark transverse vertical bands on body; dorsal, pectoral and pelvic fins mottled with dark spots and bands (Ref. 109257).. |
| Feeds on zooplankton. Eggs demersal. No importance to fisheries (Ref. 109257).. |
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Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 28 January 2013 Ref. (130435)
|
| harmless |
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