Common Name
Mediterranean Flyingfish
Year Described
Rafinesque, 1810
Identification
Dorsal Fin: 12-15
Anal Fin: 8-10
Pectoral Fin: 16-18
Gill Rakers: 19-26 (first arch)
Predorsal Scales: 29-38 (usually 30-35)
Transverse Scale Rows: 7-9
Vertebrae: 46-50 (usually 47-49)
Body elongate with a rectangular cross-section. Head length 4.3-4.9 in SL. Jaw teeth conical; not conspicuous. Lower jaw slightly longer than upper. Palatine teeth absent. Pectoral fins long (1.3-1.5 in SL) with first ray unbranched, fin reaching to caudal fin base. Pelvic fins long (2.7-3.3 in SL), reaching well beyond anal fin origin, with pelvic origin nearer to anal fin than pectoral fin base. Dorsal fin relatively low (longest ray more than 10 times in SL). Origin of anal fin well behind that of dorsal fin (under 5-7th dorsal ray). Caudal fin forked with the lower lobe longer than upper. Lateral line low on side. Pectoral branch of lateral line absent. Juveniles with very short barbels (lost at 8-9cm SL) and expanded pelvic fins.
Color
Dark blue above, abruptly paler below. Pectoral fin light to dark gray, with indistinct pale crossband and pale outer margin. Dorsal fin gray. Anal fin transparent. Pelvic fin transparent. Caudal fin light to dark gray. Juveniles with indistinct body bars, dark blotches on fins, and light barbels.
Size
Maximum size to 35cm SL.
Habitat
Pelagic in neritic waters. Zooplanktivorous with demersal eggs.
Range
Continental: vagrants have been taken off Bermuda and Brazil. Records elsewhere need confirmation.
References
Parin, N.V. 2002. Exocoetidae (pp 1116-1134). In: Carpenter. 2002. The living marine resources of the Western Central Atlantic. Vol. 2: Bony fishes part 1 (Acipenseridae-Grammatidae). FAO Species Identification Guides for Fisheries Purposes. American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists Special Publication No. 5.