Description

Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 13 - 15; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 8 - 11. Body dark iridescent blue above, silvery white below; pectorals black with pale margin, central portion crossed by a yellowish stripe becoming narrower toward anterior fin margin; pelvic fins with prominent black spot (Ref. 6797). Body of juveniles with dark bars (Ref. 6797).

Common Names

Taxonomic Hierarchy

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Teleostei

Order: Beloniformes

Family: Exocoetidae

Genus: Cheilopogon

Species: Cheilopogon nigricans (Bennett, 1840)

Climate Zone

Location

• Indo-West Pacific: in tropical waters, south to the Mascarenes, Aldabra, and Natal, South Africa (Ref. 33390) and east to Japan, the Caroline and Solomon islands. Western Atlantic: 40°N to off Rio de Janeiro in Brazil. Eastern Atlantic: Gulf of Guinea and adjacent waters.

Biology

Inhabits surface waters of the open ocean, capable of leaping out of the water and gliding for long distances above the surface (Ref. 3395). Planktivore (Ref. 97629).

Habitat

oceanic

Conservation Status

Least Concern

Threat to Humans

Harmless