| Family: |
Exocoetidae (Flyingfishes) |
| Max. size: |
11 cm SL (male/unsexed) |
| Environment: |
pelagic-neritic; marine; depth range 0 - 20 m, oceanodromous |
| Distribution: |
Indo-Pacific: widespread from East Africa, including the Red Sea and the Gulf, to southern Japan, Marshall Islands, Fiji, the Arafura Sea (Ref. 9819) and Queensland, Australia. Migrated to eastern Mediterranean through the Suez Canal (Ref. 6523). Presence in Somalia to be confirmed (Ref. 30573). Records from the Atlantic (as Parexocoetus mento atlanticus) are in error. |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9-12; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 10-12. Dorsal fin mostly blackish; pectorals and caudal greyish, other fins transparent (Ref. 2797). |
| Biology: |
Found in near-shore surface waters, never spread to open sea (Ref. 9839). Capable of leaping out of the water and gliding above the surface (Ref. 30573). |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Not Evaluated (N.E.) Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
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