Species: Elagatis bipinnulata, Rainbow Runner

Elagatis bipinnulata (Quoy & Gaimard, 1825)

Rainbow Runner

Body elongate, fusiform; snout pointed; mouth small, opens at front, ends well before eye; dorsal rays VI+I, 25-28 + 2; anal rays I+I, 18-20 + 2; base of 2nd dorsal fin much longer than base of anal fin; a single 2-rayed finlet behind dorsal and anal fins; pectoral fin shorter than head; tail base slender; tail strongly forked; tail base notched above and below; lateral line with slight arch anteriorly; no scutes (hard, spiny scales) on lateral line; body scales oval; breast scaled.

Dark olive green to blue above, white below; two narrow light blue or bluish-white stripes along sides, with a broader olive or yellowish stripe between them; fins with an olive or yellow tint.

Size: grows to 180 cm, but common to 80 cm; IGFA record 17.1 kg.

Habitat: a pelagic species, usually found near the surface around islands sometimes far offshore.

Depth: 0-150 m.

Circumtropical; Massachusetts to NE Brazil.