116 EXOCOETIDAE (FL YINGFISHES)
Genus Exocoetus Linnaeus, 1758
Three species; E. obtusirostris Gunther, 1866 of the tropical Atlantic and off the coast of Angola may occur in our
area. It has 24-29 GR; juveniles are easily separated from
E. monocirrhus by the absence of a chin barbel, but no
characters have been found to distinguish adults.
KEY TO SPECIES
1a GR 21-29; usually 7 rows of scales between D origin
and LL; body depth 3.5-5.1 in SL; juveniles (1-9 cm SL)
hump-backed, with a chin barbel ........................ E. monocirrhus
I b GR 29-37; usually 6 rows of scales between D origin
and LL; body depth 5.1-6.0 in SL; juveniles elongate,
without chin barbel ................................................ E. volitans
116.5 Exocoetus monocirrhus
Richardson, 1846
Two-wing flyingfish
Tweevlerk-vlieende vis
Exocoetus monocirrhus Richardson, 1846: 265 (China); Parin, 1960:
218*; Kotthaus, 1969: 8*; Kovalevskaya , 1980: 219*; Parin , 1984: 23*.
D 12-14; A 12-14; P i,14-16; predorsal scales 17-21; vertebrae 40-43.
Head 3.6-3.8, P 1.3-1.4 in SL. V not reaching A (except in small
juveniles), their origin nearer P base than to A.
Body dark iridescent blue dorsally, silvery white ventrally; P and C greyish or brownish, other fins unpigmented.
Juveniles often with black bars. Attains 20 cm SL. An
offshore species throughout Indo-West Pacific tropical
waters; extends south to Durban.
116.5 Exocoetus monocirrhus: top: 6.5 em juvenile; bottom: ea. 16.5 em
adult (after Abe, 1955).
Tropical
116.6 Exocoetus volitans
Linnaeus, 1758
two-wing flyingfish
Tropiese
tweevlerk-vlieende vis
Exocoetus votitans Linnaeus, 1758: 316 (open ocean off Europe and
America); Smith, SFSA No. 210*; Parin, 1960: 215* ; Kotthaus, 1969: 9*;
Kovalevskaya , 1980: 217*; Gibbs , 1981: Exoc2*; Parin , 1984: 21*.
394
D 13-15; A 12-15; P i,13-15; predorsal scales 17-21; vertebrae 42-46.
Head 3.5-3.9, P 1.3-1.4 in SL. V not reaching A, their origin nearer P base
than to A .
Body dark, iridescent blue dorsally, silvery white ventrally; P and C greyish, other fins unpigmented. Juveniles
sometimes with black bars. Attains about 18 cm SL. An
offshore species, worldwide in tropical waters; occasionally
found in our area.
116.6 Exocoetus vo/itans: 19 em (after Abe, 1957).
Genus Hirundichthys Breder, 1928
About 7 species; 2 subgenera recognised by Parin (1961).
KEY TO SPECIES
la One unbranched ray in P; palatine teeth present;
P dark, with pale basal triangle and wide pale
margin ....................................... H. (Hirundichthys) specl/tiger
Ib Two unbranched rays in P; palatine teeth absent;
P dark, without pale basal triangle and with narrow
pale margin ..................................... H. (Danichthys) rondeletii
116.7 Hirundichthys ronde/etH
(Valenciennes, 1846)
Subtropical flyingfish
Subtropies vlieende vis
Exocoelus rondeletiiValenciennes, in Cuv. & Val., 1846: 115 (Mediterranean). Hirundichlhys rondelelii: Kovalevskaya, 1980: 244*; Gibbs,
1981: Hir 2*; Parin, 1984: 25*
D 10-12; A 11-12; P ii,15-18; predorsal scales 27-32; vertebrae 45-47;
GR 24-31. Depth 5.8-6.7, head 4.3-4 .9, P 1.2-1.4 in SL. A origin before
2nd D ray; V reach well past A origin.
116.7 Hirundichthys ronde/etii: 10 em (after Abe, 1956).
Genus Exocoetus Linnaeus, 1758
Three species; E. obtusirostris Gunther, 1866 of the tropical Atlantic and off the coast of Angola may occur in our
area. It has 24-29 GR; juveniles are easily separated from
E. monocirrhus by the absence of a chin barbel, but no
characters have been found to distinguish adults.
KEY TO SPECIES
1a GR 21-29; usually 7 rows of scales between D origin
and LL; body depth 3.5-5.1 in SL; juveniles (1-9 cm SL)
hump-backed, with a chin barbel ........................ E. monocirrhus
I b GR 29-37; usually 6 rows of scales between D origin
and LL; body depth 5.1-6.0 in SL; juveniles elongate,
without chin barbel ................................................ E. volitans
116.5 Exocoetus monocirrhus
Richardson, 1846
Two-wing flyingfish
Tweevlerk-vlieende vis
Exocoetus monocirrhus Richardson, 1846: 265 (China); Parin, 1960:
218*; Kotthaus, 1969: 8*; Kovalevskaya , 1980: 219*; Parin , 1984: 23*.
D 12-14; A 12-14; P i,14-16; predorsal scales 17-21; vertebrae 40-43.
Head 3.6-3.8, P 1.3-1.4 in SL. V not reaching A (except in small
juveniles), their origin nearer P base than to A.
Body dark iridescent blue dorsally, silvery white ventrally; P and C greyish or brownish, other fins unpigmented.
Juveniles often with black bars. Attains 20 cm SL. An
offshore species throughout Indo-West Pacific tropical
waters; extends south to Durban.
116.5 Exocoetus monocirrhus: top: 6.5 em juvenile; bottom: ea. 16.5 em
adult (after Abe, 1955).
Tropical
116.6 Exocoetus volitans
Linnaeus, 1758
two-wing flyingfish
Tropiese
tweevlerk-vlieende vis
Exocoetus votitans Linnaeus, 1758: 316 (open ocean off Europe and
America); Smith, SFSA No. 210*; Parin, 1960: 215* ; Kotthaus, 1969: 9*;
Kovalevskaya , 1980: 217*; Gibbs , 1981: Exoc2*; Parin , 1984: 21*.
394
D 13-15; A 12-15; P i,13-15; predorsal scales 17-21; vertebrae 42-46.
Head 3.5-3.9, P 1.3-1.4 in SL. V not reaching A, their origin nearer P base
than to A .
Body dark, iridescent blue dorsally, silvery white ventrally; P and C greyish, other fins unpigmented. Juveniles
sometimes with black bars. Attains about 18 cm SL. An
offshore species, worldwide in tropical waters; occasionally
found in our area.
116.6 Exocoetus vo/itans: 19 em (after Abe, 1957).
Genus Hirundichthys Breder, 1928
About 7 species; 2 subgenera recognised by Parin (1961).
KEY TO SPECIES
la One unbranched ray in P; palatine teeth present;
P dark, with pale basal triangle and wide pale
margin ....................................... H. (Hirundichthys) specl/tiger
Ib Two unbranched rays in P; palatine teeth absent;
P dark, without pale basal triangle and with narrow
pale margin ..................................... H. (Danichthys) rondeletii
116.7 Hirundichthys ronde/etH
(Valenciennes, 1846)
Subtropical flyingfish
Subtropies vlieende vis
Exocoelus rondeletiiValenciennes, in Cuv. & Val., 1846: 115 (Mediterranean). Hirundichlhys rondelelii: Kovalevskaya, 1980: 244*; Gibbs,
1981: Hir 2*; Parin, 1984: 25*
D 10-12; A 11-12; P ii,15-18; predorsal scales 27-32; vertebrae 45-47;
GR 24-31. Depth 5.8-6.7, head 4.3-4 .9, P 1.2-1.4 in SL. A origin before
2nd D ray; V reach well past A origin.
116.7 Hirundichthys ronde/etii: 10 em (after Abe, 1956).