Genus: Parexocoetus, Sailfin Flyingfish, Flyingfishes
top jaw protractile
pectoral not reaching past A base
pelvic reaches A origin
branch of LL to pectoral base
juvenile: 2 chin barbels
PAREXOCOETUS
FLYINGFISHES
Body elongate, broadly cylindrical; head short, snout short and blunt; mouth small, short, blunt, upper jaw protrusible, small conical teeth; fins without spines; anal origin before 2nd dorsal ray; pectoral moderately long, not reaching past anal base, 1st 2 rays unbranched; pelvic fin short, barely reaching anal origin, its origin nearer the anal fin base than the pectoral base; tail deeply forked with a longer lower lobe; scales large, smooth, easily shed; lateral line low on the body, with a branch to origin of pectoral; juveniles with paired chin barbells (easily lost).
A circumtropical genus with 3 species; 1 W Atlantic species in our region.
