Species: Exocoetus obtusirostris, Oceanic Two-wing Flyingfish

Exocoetus obtusirostris Günther, 1866

Oceanic Two-wing Flyingfish

Elongate, broadly cylindrical body; head short, snout short and blunt; snout shorter than eye diameter; mouth small, short, blunt, lower jaw a little longer than upper jaw; no teeth; 22-29 gill rakers; fins without spines; dorsal rays 12-14; anal rays 12-14; pectoral 71-77% of standard length, reaches past anal base, its 1st (and sometimes 2nd) ray unbranched; pelvic fin with origin nearer pectoral base than anal origin, fin short, not reaching anal origin; anal origin under or behind 3rd dorsal ray; tail deeply forked with a longer lower lobe; scales large, smooth, easily shed; 7.5 (7-8) scale rows between dorsal fin and lateral line; 18-21 scales before dorsal fin; lateral line low on the body, no branch of lateral line to origin of pectoral. Juveniles with nape hump, without chin barbell.

Dark above, pale below; dorsal and tail fins greyish; anal and pelvics transparent; pectorals grey with broad pale margin mainly pale or slightly dusky. Juvenile body grey; dorsal and anal fins black at rear; pectoral transparent; pelvics black.

Maximum size: 25 cm.

Habitat: pelagic in offshore surface waters.

Depth: 0-20 m.

Tropical Atlantic; 40N to ~40S.