Common Names

Taxonomic Hierarchy

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Teleostei

Order: Beloniformes

Family: Exocoetidae

Genus: Cheilopogon

Species: Cheilopogon melanurus (Valenciennes, 1847)

Climate Zone

Location

• Western Atlantic: Gulf Stream waters off Massachusetts, USA to southern Brazil. Caribbean including Antilles (Ref. 26938). Eastern Atlantic: Senegal to Liberia (Ref. 4498). Northwest Atlantic: Canada (Ref. 5951). Reported from Sao Tome Island (Ref. 34088).

Biology

Generally found in surface waters near the coast (Ref. 5217). Capable of leaping out of the water and gliding for long distances above the surface (Ref. 3613).

Habitat

neritic

Conservation Status

Least Concern

Threat to Humans

Harmless