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Manyspotted flyingfish (Cheilopogon spilopterus) — Exocoetidae

Manyspotted flyingfish

Cheilopogon spilopterus
Family: Exocoetidae

The Manyspotted flyingfish (Cheilopogon spilopterus) is a saltwater fish of the family Exocoetidae that grows up to 25 cm.

Length
25 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
0.0–20.0 m
Behaviour
Schooling
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Open water
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Commonly eaten

Description

The Manyspotted flyingfish is a flyingfish (Exocoetidae) from the Indo-West Pacific. The species grows to about 25 cm and has a streamlined, silver-blue body with strongly enlarged, wing-like pectoral fins. When threatened it shoots out of the water and glides over the surface to escape predators. As a schooling open-water fish it eats zooplankton. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Manyspotted flyingfish?

The Manyspotted flyingfish has an elongate, eel-like body and is mainly blue.

Where does the Manyspotted flyingfish live?

The Manyspotted flyingfish lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around open water.

How big does the Manyspotted flyingfish get?

The Manyspotted flyingfish grows to a maximum of about 25 cm.

Is the Manyspotted flyingfish dangerous to humans?

No, the Manyspotted flyingfish is harmless to humans.

Is the Manyspotted flyingfish edible?

Yes, the Manyspotted flyingfish is commonly eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Zwartpunt-vliegende vis sourced
English name
Manyspotted flyingfish sourced
Scientific name
Cheilopogon spilopterus
Family
Exocoetidae
Other names
Flyingfish; Indian-spotted flying fish; Indian-spotted flying-fish; Lesser spotted flying-fish; Manyspot flyingfish verified

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
25.0 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Blue sourced
Tail shape
Forked inferred

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Open water sourced
Min depth (m)
0.0 verified
Max depth (m)
20.0 verified
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

Social behaviour
Schooling sourced
Territorial
No inferred
Activity
Diurnal inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes inferred
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred

For anglers

Edibility
Commonly eaten inferred
Fishing method
Te vangen met natuurlijk aas of kunstaas, afgestemd op de grootte en het leefgebied van de soort. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless verified

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

Same genus Cheilopogon

More from the family Exocoetidae

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