Shorefishes of the Greater Caribbean online information system

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Species: Prognichthys occidentalis, Western bluntnose flyingfish

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eye 56-71% head behind eye
pectoral brown, pale outer tip & lower part (light
A 9 (8-10)

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.


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