Shorefishes of the Greater Caribbean online information system

Español  Contact

Species: Hirundichthys speculiger, Mirrorwing Flyingfish

All Families:   All Genera:   All Species:

head 22.7-25.6% SL
pectoral 63-74% SL, 1st ray unbranched
pectoral dark + broad clear cross-bar base to mid-fin, broad clear outer margin
side roof mouth: teeth
pelvic light

Hirundichthys speculiger (Valenciennes in Cuvier & Valenciennes, 1847)

Mirrorwing Flyingfish

Elongate, broadly cylindrical body; head 22.7-25.6% SL, snout short and blunt; mouth small, short, blunt, jaws about equal in length; jaw teeth conspicuous, conical; sides of roof of mouth with teeth; fins without spines; dorsal 10-13 rays, usually with fewer or equal number of rays than anal fin; anal 11-13 rays, anal origin slightly before of 1-2 rays behind dorsal fin origin; pectoral reaching past anal base, 63-74% SL, only 1st ray unbranched, 17-20 branched rays; pelvic origin nearer rear edge of operculum than to origin of tail fin, fin long, reaching past anal origin; tail deeply forked with a much longer lower lobe; scales large, smooth, easily shed, 30-34 scales before dorsal fin; lateral line low on the body, no branch of lateral line to origin of pectoral. Juveniles without barbels under chin.

Body iridescent dark blue above, silvery below; pectoral dark, broad clear margin, broad transverse clear bar from base to middle of fin; dorsal and anal grey; pelvics light. Juvenile: pectoral and pelvics mottled with dark spots and bars.

Size: 31 cm.

Habitat: oceanic pelagic.

Depth: surface, 0-20 m.

Circumtropical; 40N to 40S.


High Resolution Map Download

Species Data Create Report Export as Word File Export as Excel File
Salinity
  • Marine
  • Marine Only
Inshore/Offshore
  • Offshore
  • Offshore Only
Water Column Position
  • Near Surface
  • Surface
  • Water column only
Habitat
  • Water column
FishBase Habitat
  • Pelagic
Feeding Group
  • Data
  • Planktivore
Diet
  • Data
  • Zooplankton
Egg Type
  • Benthic
  • Data
  • Pelagic larva
Global Endemism
  • All species
  • Circumtropical ( Indian + Pacific + Atlantic Oceans)
  • Greater Caribbean non-endemic
Regional Endemism
  • Also in Brazil
  • Continent
  • Continent + Island (s)
  • Continental primarily
  • Extends N + S of GC
  • Extends North of GC
  • Extends South of GC
  • GC non-endemic
  • Island (s)
  • All species
Residency
  • Resident
Climate Zone
  • Equatorial (0-10N, Costa Rica / Venezuela)
  • Subtropical (23-35N, Florida / Carolinas / Bermuda)
  • Temperate (>35N)
  • Tropical (10-23N, Nicaragua / Cuba)
IUCN Red List
  • Least concern
  • Listed
CITES
  • Not listed
Length Max
  • 31
Depth Range Min
  • 0
Depth Range Max
  • 20