Species: Cheilopogon melanurus, Atlantic flyingfish

Cheilopogon melanurus (Valenciennes in Cuvier & Valenciennes, 1847)

Atlantic flyingfish

Body elongate, rectangular in cross section; head length >23% SL; mouth small, short, blunt, lower jaw slightly longer than top jaw; jaw teeth minute, not noticeable to touch, conical; sides of roof of mouth without teeth; lower jaw a little longer; fins without spines; dorsal fin low, height <10% SL, 12-14 rays; pectoral reaches past anal base, 1st ray unbranched; pelvic origin nearer operculum than base of tail fin, fin reaches just past anal base; 7-11 anal rays, origin of fin under 5th-7th dorsal ray; tail deeply forked with a longer lower lobe; scales large, smooth, easily shed; 25-33 (usually 27-30) scales along nape in front of dorsal fin; lateral line low on the body, no branch of lateral line to origin of pectoral. Juveniles with a pair of short barbels under chin consisting of a stalk with a skin fold along the outside.

Dark above, pale below; dorsal and tail fins grey; anal fin transparent; pectorals greyish, with indistinct pale triangular cross bar and narrow clear rear margin; anal clear; pelvics clear. Juvenile: body with 6 dark bars; dorsal and anal fins with dark marks; pectorals and pelvics with dark blotches and bars.

Size: 33 cm.

Habitat: surface pelagic, inshore and offshore.

Depth: 0-5 m.

E&W Atlantic from 40N to 30S.