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Blunt-snouted flying fish (Exocoetus obtusirostris) — Exocoetidae

Blunt-snouted flying fish

Exocoetus obtusirostris
Family: Exocoetidae
LC · Least Concern

The Blunt-snouted flying fish (Exocoetus obtusirostris) is a saltwater fish of the family Exocoetidae that grows up to 24 cm.

Length
24 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
0.0–20.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Schooling
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped
Substrate
Open water
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Not eaten

Description

The oceanic two-wing flyingfish is a flyingfish (family Exocoetidae) occurring worldwide in tropical oceans. The species reaches about 24 cm and has a streamlined, blue-silvery body with greatly enlarged pectoral fins and a blunt snout. It lives at the surface, both near and far from the coast, and when escaping predators can leap from the water and glide considerable distances above the surface. Its diet consists of zooplankton. The species forms schools and is an important food source for larger predatory fishes and seabirds. It is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Blunt-snouted flying fish?

The Blunt-snouted flying fish has a torpedo-shaped body, is mainly blue and shows a plain pattern.

Where does the Blunt-snouted flying fish live?

The Blunt-snouted flying fish lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around open water.

How big does the Blunt-snouted flying fish get?

The Blunt-snouted flying fish grows to a maximum of about 24 cm. On average the species is around 20 cm.

Is the Blunt-snouted flying fish dangerous to humans?

No, the Blunt-snouted flying fish is harmless to humans.

Is the Blunt-snouted flying fish edible?

The Blunt-snouted flying fish is not usually eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Stompsnuit-vliegende vis sourced
English name
Blunt-snouted flying fish verified
Scientific name
Exocoetus obtusirostris
Family
Exocoetidae
Other names
Flying fish; Oceanic Two-wing Flyingfish; Oceanic two-wing flyingfish verified

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
24.0 verified
Average length (cm)
20.0 verified
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Blue inferred
Pattern
Plain inferred
Tail shape
Forked inferred
Mouth position
Terminal inferred
Lips
Thin inferred
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
One continuous inferred
Dorsal spines
No sourced

Habitat & distribution

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

Behaviour & biology

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

For anglers

Edibility
Not eaten sourced
Fishing method
Sportvissen met kunstaas of (dood/levend) aasvis door te trollen, te werpen of drijvend te vissen in open water. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless sourced

Status & sources

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

Same genus Exocoetus

More from the family Exocoetidae

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