Hirundichthys marginatus (Nichols & Breder, 1928)
Banded flyingfish
Hirundichthys marginatus
photo by FAO

Family:  Exocoetidae (Flyingfishes)
Max. size:  21 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  pelagic-oceanic; marine; depth range - 0 m, oceanodromous
Distribution:  Eastern Pacific: Mexico to Peru.
Diagnosis:  Body cylindrical, elongate, and thick; snout short, not very pointed, less than eye diameter; lower jaw shorter than upper jaw and hidden by it; fins lacking spines; pectoral fins set high on the body, very long, surpassing midpoint of dorsal fin; anal fin origin slightly ahead of, or not more than 3 rays behind, dorsal fin origin; back dark blue or iridescent green; belly yellowish white; pectoral fins dark blue (Ref. 55763).
Biology:  Epipelagic in oceanic waters. May leap out of the water and glide for considerable distances over the surface.
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 01 May 2008 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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