Parexocoetus brachypterus

Sailfin flyingfish
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Beloniformes
Family: Exocoetidae
Genus: Parexocoetus
Bleeker, 1865
Species: P. brachypterus
Binomial name
Parexocoetus brachypterus
(Richardson, 1846)[1]

The sailfin flyingfish (Parexocoetus brachypterus) is a member of the flying fish family. Like other members its family, P. brachypterus is known for its ability to leap out of the water and glide above its surface.[2] They have a distribution range that encompasses the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans.[3] It is an epipelagic fish and can be found in coastal waters but are rarely encountered in open oceans.[2] They are known to spawn during the months of September to April in the waters near Barbados and Puerto Rico.[3] Appearance wise, the sailfin flyingfish is known to have a robust build, blunt snout, short pectoral fins and having a long dorsal fin.[4]

Importance to humans

P. brachypterus is not known as an important food fish[2] and is merely considered as bycatch by the fishing industry.[5] However, like other flying fishes, they can be prepared as salted fish by salting them and leaving them to dry out in the sun.[6]

References

  1. "Parexocoetus brachypterus (Richardson, 1846)". Fishbase.org. Retrieved 8 February 2015.
  2. 1 2 3 "Parexocoetus brachypterus (Richardson, 1846)". World Register of Marine Species. Retrieved 8 February 2015.
  3. 1 2 Richards, edited by William J. (2006). Early stages of Atlantic fishes an identification guide for the western central North Atlantic. Boca Raton: Taylor & Francis. p. 962. ISBN 0203500210. Retrieved 8 February 2015.
  4. McEachran, John; Fechhelm, Janice D. (2013). Fishes of the Gulf of Mexico, Vol. 1: Myxiniformes to Gasterosteiformes. University of Texas Press. p. 1992. ISBN 9780292757059. Retrieved 8 February 2015.
  5. Poutiers, Corinna Sommer, Wolfgang Schneider, Jean-Maurice (1996). The living marine resources of Somalia. Rome: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. ISBN 9251037426. Retrieved 8 February 2015.
  6. Shukla, JP. Fish & Fisheries. Rastogi Publications. p. 358. ISBN 9788171338009. Retrieved 8 February 2015.
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