Species: Hirundichthys volador, Atlantic Blackwing Flyingfish

Hirundichthys volador (Jordan, 1884)

Atlantic Blackwing Flyingfish

Elongate, broadly cylindrical body; head 20-22% 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 fin very low, 10-12 rays; anal 11-13 rays; anal origin just before to just behind dorsal origin; 1st 2 pectoral rays unbranched, fin reaches past anal base, 74-80% SL; pelvic origin nearer anal origin than pectoral base, fin long, reaching past anal origin; tail deeply forked with a much longer lower lobe; scales large, smooth, easily shed; 27-32 scales before dorsal fin; lateral line low on the body, no branch to origin of pectoral. Juveniles without barbels under chin.

Body dark iridescent blue above, silvery below; pectoral black, with narrow clear rear margin; dorsal and tail fins dusky, other fins clear; in juveniles the dorsal fin is clear with a dark outer blotch and the paired fins are black.

Size: 32 cm.

Habitat: oceanic pelagic.

Depth: surface, 0-20 m.

NW Atlantic to the Caribbean.