Species: Prognichthys occidentalis, Western bluntnose flyingfish


Prognichthys occidentalis Parin, 1999
Western bluntnose flyingfish
Body elongate, nearly rectangular in cross-section, almost flat below; snout short; eye large (56-71% of head behind eye); mouth small, short, blunt, lower jaw a little shorter than upper and enclosed by latter when mouth is shut; 20-26 gill rakers; fins without spines; dorsal fin low, 10-13 rays; anal fin 8-10 (usually 9) rays, originates under 4th-5th dorsal fin ray; pectoral reaches past anal base, first 2 rays unbranched; pelvic origin closer to operculum than to tail fin base, fin reaches middle of anal fin base; tail deeply forked with a longer lower lobe; scales large, smooth, easily shed; 22-28 scales on nape before dorsal fin; 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 above, pale below; dorsal and tail fins greyish; anal fin transparent; pectorals brown, with pale outer tip and lower part. Juveniles < 4 cm: body and fins dark, pectorals with a light crossbar in larger juveniles.
Size: 23 cm.
Habitat: nearshore pelagic.
Depth: surface, 0-5 m?
N US to Argentina.

High Resolution Map Download
- Salinity
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- Marine Only
- Marine
- Inshore/Offshore
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- Inshore
- Offshore
- In & Offshore
- Water Column Position
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- Surface
- Near Surface
- Water column only
- Habitat
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- Water column
- FishBase Habitat
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- Pelagic
- Feeding Group
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- Planktivore
- Data
- Diet
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- Data
- Zooplankton
- Egg Type
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- Pelagic larva
- Data
- Benthic
- Global Endemism
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- West Atlantic Endemic
- Greater Caribbean non-endemic
- All species.
- Regional Endemism
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- Island (s)
- GC non-endemic
- Extends North of GC
- Continent + Island (s)
- Extends South of GC
- Continent
- Also in Brazil
- All species..
- Extends N + S of GC
- Residency
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- Resident
- Climate Zone
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- Subtropical (23-35N, Florida / Carolinas / Bermuda)
- Temperate (>35N)
- Equatorial (0-10N, Costa Rica / Venezuela)
- Tropical (10-23N, Nicaragua / Cuba)
- IUCN Red List
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- Listed
- Least concern
- CITES
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- Not listed
- Depth Range Min
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- 0
- Depth Range Max
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- 5
- Length Max
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- 23