Species: Prognichthys glaphyrae, Gyre Flyingfish, Oceanic Bluntnose Flyingfish

Prognichthys glaphyrae Parin, 1999

Gyre Flyingfish, Oceanic Bluntnose Flyingfish

Elongate, nearly rectangular in cross-section, almost flat below; snout short; eye large (67-83% of head behind eye); mouth small, short, blunt, lower jaw a little shorter than upper and enclosed by latter when mouth is shut; jaw teeth small, mostly conical, sides of roof of mouth without teeth; fins without spines; dorsal fin low, 11-13 rays; anal fin with 9-11 (usually 10) soft rays, its origin under 3rd-5th dorsal ray; pectoral reaches past anal base, 1st 2 rays unbranched; pelvic fin reaches nearly to end of anal fin, its origin closer to operculum than to tail fin base; tail deeply forked with a longer lower lobe; scales large, smooth, easily shed; lateral line low on the body, no branch of lateral line to origin of pectoral. Juveniles without chin barbels; robust and blunt snouted; pectorals and pelvics of similar length.

Dark iridescent blue above, abruptly silver below; dorsal and tail fins greyish; anal clear; pectorals greyish to greenish in center, outer 1/4 of tips, rear margin and lower part transparent; pelvics mostly greyish to greenish, especially in middle. Juvenile: < 4 cm dark body and fins; larger fish with pectorals black below and at rear, rest pale.

Size: 25 cm.

Habitat: inshore pelagic.

Depth: surface, 0-5 m?

Atlantic; 30N to 20S.