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Species: Hirundichthys affinis, Fourwing Flyingfish

All Families:   All Genera:   All Species:

head 22.7-25.6% SL
pectoral 63-74% SL, 1st ray unbranched
pectoral dark grey + pale triangular cross-bar & narrow white outer margin
side roof mouth: no teeth

Hirundichthys affinis (Gunther, 1866)

Fourwing Flyingfish

Elongate, broadly cylindrical bodies; head 22.7-25.6% SL; snout short and blunt; mouth small, short, blunt, jaws about equal in length; jaw teeth conspicuous, conical; no teeth on sides of roof of mouth; 24-30 gill rakers; fins without spines; dorsal fin very low, 10-12 rays; anal 11-13 rays; anal origin slightly before or 1-2 rays after dorsal origin; pectoral 63-74% SL, reaching past anal base, only 1st ray unbranched, 16-18 rays, 1st (and sometimes 2nd) pectoral ray unbranched; pelvic origin nearer rear margin of operculum than base of tail fin, fin reaching just past anal base; tail deeply forked with a much longer lower lobe; scales large, smooth, easily shed; 6-33 scales before dorsal fin; lateral line low on the body, no branch to origin of pectoral; juveniles without barbels under chin.

Body bluey green above, pale below; dorsal and tail fins dusky; anal fin clear; pelvics light; pectoral dark grey with clear triangular crossbar and narrow white outer margin; dorsal and tail fins dusky, other fins clear. Juvenile: pectorals and pelvics mottled with dark spots and bars.

Size: 29 cm.

Habitat: inshore and offshore pelagic.

Depth: surface, 0-20 m.

Tropical Atlantic.


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Salinity
  • Marine
  • Marine Only
Inshore/Offshore
  • In & Offshore
  • Inshore
  • Offshore
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
  • Transatlantic (East+West Atlantic)
Regional Endemism
  • Also in Brazil
  • Continent
  • Continent + Island (s)
  • Extends South of GC
  • GC non-endemic
  • Island (s)
  • All species
Residency
  • Resident
Climate Zone
  • Equatorial (0-10N, Costa Rica / Venezuela)
  • Subtropical (23-35N, Florida / Carolinas / Bermuda)
  • Tropical (10-23N, Nicaragua / Cuba)
IUCN Red List
  • Least concern
  • Listed
CITES
  • Not listed
Length Max
  • 29
Depth Range Min
  • 0
Depth Range Max
  • 20