Shorefishes of the Greater Caribbean online information system

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Species: Hirundichthys volador, Atlantic Blackwing Flyingfish

All Families:   All Genera:   All Species:

head 20-22% SL
pectoral 74-80-% SL, 1st 2 rays unbranched
pectoral black + narrow clear outer margin
side roof mouth: teeth

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.


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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
  • Pelagic fish larvae
Egg Type
  • Benthic
  • Data
  • Pelagic larva
Global Endemism
  • All species
  • Greater Caribbean non-endemic
  • West Atlantic Endemic
Regional Endemism
  • Continent
  • Continent + Island (s)
  • Extends North of GC
  • GC non-endemic
  • Island (s)
  • All species
Residency
  • Resident
Climate Zone
  • Subtropical (23-35N, Florida / Carolinas / Bermuda)
  • Temperate (>35N)
  • Tropical (10-23N, Nicaragua / Cuba)
IUCN Red List
  • Least concern
  • Listed
CITES
  • Not listed
Length Max
  • 32
Depth Range Min
  • 0
Depth Range Max
  • 20