Home · Exocoetidae · Peruvian flyingfish
Peruvian flyingfish (Exocoetus peruvianus) — Exocoetidae

Peruvian flyingfish

Exocoetus peruvianus
Family: Exocoetidae

The Peruvian flyingfish (Exocoetus peruvianus) is a saltwater fish of the family Exocoetidae that grows up to 25 cm.

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

Description

The Peruvian flyingfish is a flyingfish (Exocoetidae) from the open surface water of the eastern Pacific, off Peru. The species grows to about 25 cm and has a slender, streamlined, blue-silver body with greatly enlarged, wing-like pectoral fins and an uneven tail. To escape predators it shoots from the water and glides long distances through the air. As a schooling fish it snaps at small zooplankton. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Peruvian flyingfish?

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

Where does the Peruvian flyingfish live?

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

How big does the Peruvian flyingfish get?

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

Is the Peruvian flyingfish dangerous to humans?

No, the Peruvian flyingfish is harmless to humans.

Download Fin's Fish Guide

Identify fish in seconds, log your catches and dives. Join the TestFlight beta.

Get the beta →

All data

Identification

Dutch name
Peruaanse vliegende vis sourced
English name
Peruvian flyingfish sourced
Scientific name
Exocoetus peruvianus
Family
Exocoetidae

Appearance

Max length (cm)
25 inferred
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
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

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 Exocoetus

More from the family Exocoetidae

Download Fin's Fish Guide

Identify fish in seconds, log your catches and dives. Join the TestFlight beta.

Get the beta →