Other identification tools | FishBase

Fish Identification: Find Species


Family: Exocoetidae Flyingfishes



(See list of species below)



Select Class:     Select Order:   
Select Family: Subfamily:     Select Genus:

Select Ocean (marine/brackish) or Continent (freshwater):
Select a country:
Only include species occuring above: m

Total number of spines in dorsal and anal fins (optional).      Enter total length (TL) and maximum body depth (BD)

Show family drawing(s)



71 species
(see list below)
Export file

1 of 1 Jump to:

Photo by Reyes, R.B.

Indo-West Pacific
Max. Length 22 cm SL
Cheilopogon abei Parin, 1996

Photo by Photo by Reyes, R.B.
 
Cheilopogon abei
[Abe's flyingfish]

Photo by The Fish Database of Taiwan

Northwest Pacific
Max. Length 35 cm SL
Cheilopogon agoo (Temminck & Schlegel, 1846)

Photo by Photo by The Fish Database of Taiwan
 
Cheilopogon agoo
[Japanese flyingfish]

Photo by Welter-Schultes, F.

Western Indian Ocean
Max. Length 38 cm SL
Cheilopogon altipennis (Valenciennes, 1847)

Photo by Photo by Welter-Schultes, F.
 
Cheilopogon altipennis
[Smallhead flyingfish]

Photo by Shao, K.T.

Western Pacific
Max. Length 21 cm SL
Cheilopogon arcticeps (Günther, 1866)

Photo by Photo by Shao, K.T.
 
Cheilopogon arcticeps
[White-finned flyingfish]

Photo by FAO

Indo-Pacific
Max. Length 33 cm SL
Cheilopogon atrisignis (Jenkins, 1903)

Photo by Photo by FAO
 
Cheilopogon atrisignis
[Glider flyingfish]

Photo by FAO

Eastern Pacific
Max. Length 38 cm SL
Cheilopogon californicus (Cooper, 1863)

Photo by Photo by FAO
 
Cheilopogon californicus
[California flyingfish]

Photo by Cambraia Duarte, P.M.N. (c)ImagDOP

Indo-West Pacific
Max. Length 40 cm TL
Cheilopogon cyanopterus (Valenciennes, 1847)

Photo by Photo by Cambraia Duarte, P.M.N. (c)ImagDOP
 
Cheilopogon cyanopterus
[Margined flyingfish]

Photo by Suzuki, T.

Western Pacific
Max. Length 35 cm TL
Cheilopogon doederleinii (Steindachner, 1887)

Photo by Photo by Suzuki, T.
 
Cheilopogon doederleinii
[]

Photo by FAO

Pacific Ocean
Max. Length 23 cm SL
Cheilopogon dorsomacula (Fowler, 1944)

Photo by Photo by FAO
 
Cheilopogon dorsomacula
[Backspot flyingfish]

Photo by Porcelli, D.

Western Atlantic
Max. Length 30 cm TL
Cheilopogon exsiliens (Linnaeus, 1771)

Photo by Photo by Porcelli, D.
 
Cheilopogon exsiliens
[Bandwing flyingfish]

Photo by Osmany, H.B.

Widespread in tropical zo
Max. Length 35 cm TL
Cheilopogon furcatus (Mitchill, 1815)

Photo by Photo by Osmany, H.B.
 
Cheilopogon furcatus
[Spotfin flyingfish]

Photo by Consoli, P.

Eastern Atlantic
Max. Length 40 cm TL
Cheilopogon heterurus (Rafinesque, 1810)

Photo by Photo by Consoli, P.
 
Cheilopogon heterurus
[Mediterranean flyingfish]

Photo by FAO

Worldwide in the tropics,
Max. Length 41 cm TL
Cheilopogon hubbsi (Parin, 1961)

Photo by Photo by FAO
 
Cheilopogon hubbsi
[Blotchwing flyingfish]

Photo by FAO

Indo-West Pacific
Max. Length 22 cm SL
Cheilopogon intermedius Parin, 1961

Photo by Photo by FAO
 
Cheilopogon intermedius
[Intermediate flyingfish]

Photo by American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists

Northwest Pacific
Max. Length 50 cm TL
Cheilopogon japonicus (Franz, 1910)

Photo by Photo by American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists
 
Cheilopogon japonicus
[]

Photo by FAO

Western Pacific
Max. Length 18 cm SL
Cheilopogon katoptron (Bleeker, 1865)

Photo by Photo by FAO
 
Cheilopogon katoptron
[Indonesian flyingfish]
No picture found


 
Cheilopogon melanocercus
[]

Photo by Vaske Jr., T.

Western Atlantic
Max. Length 32 cm TL
Cheilopogon melanurus (Valenciennes, 1847)

Photo by Photo by Vaske Jr., T.
 
Cheilopogon melanurus
[Atlantic flyingfish]

Photo by FAO

Eastern Atlantic
Max. Length 28.5 cm SL
Cheilopogon milleri (Gibbs & Staiger, 1970)

Photo by Photo by FAO
 
Cheilopogon milleri
[Guinean flyingfish]

Photo by FAO

Indo-West Pacific
Max. Length 28 cm SL
Cheilopogon nigricans (Bennett, 1840)

Photo by Photo by FAO
 
Cheilopogon nigricans
[Blacksail flyingfish]
No picture found

Max. Length 23.4 cm SL

 
Cheilopogon olgae
[]

Photo by FAO

Eastern Central Pacific
Max. Length 21 cm SL
Cheilopogon papilio (Clark, 1936)

Photo by Photo by FAO
 
Cheilopogon papilio
[Butterfly flyingfish]

Photo by FAO

Circumglobal
Max. Length 40 cm SL
Cheilopogon pinnatibarbatus (Bennett, 1831)

Photo by Photo by FAO
 
Cheilopogon pinnatibarbatus
[Bennett's flyingfish]

Photo by FAO

Eastern Central Pacific
Max. Length 24 cm SL
Cheilopogon pitcairnensis (Nichols & Breder, 1935)

Photo by Photo by FAO
 
Cheilopogon pitcairnensis
[]

Photo by FAO

Pacific Ocean
Max. Length 30 cm SL
Cheilopogon rapanouiensis Parin, 1961

Photo by Photo by FAO
 
Cheilopogon rapanouiensis
[Easter island flyingfish]

Photo by Randall, J.E.

Indo-Pacific to Eastern P
Max. Length 38 cm SL
Cheilopogon spilonotopterus (Bleeker, 1865)

Photo by Photo by Randall, J.E.
 
Cheilopogon spilonotopterus
[Stained flyingfish]

Photo by FAO

Eastern Indian Ocean and
Max. Length 25 cm SL
Cheilopogon spilopterus (Valenciennes, 1847)

Photo by Photo by FAO
 
Cheilopogon spilopterus
[Manyspotted flyingfish]

Photo by University of Western Australia (UWA)

Indo-Pacific
Max. Length 30 cm SL
Cheilopogon suttoni (Whitley & Colefax, 1938)

Photo by Photo by University of Western Australia (UWA)
 
Cheilopogon suttoni
[Sutton's flyingfish]

Photo by The Fish Database of Taiwan

Pacific Ocean
Max. Length 38 cm TL
Cheilopogon unicolor (Valenciennes, 1847)

Photo by Photo by The Fish Database of Taiwan
 
Cheilopogon unicolor
[Limpid-wing flyingfish]
No picture found


 
Cheilopogon ventralis
[]

Photo by FAO

Eastern Pacific

Cheilopogon xenopterus (Gilbert, 1890)

Photo by Photo by FAO
 
Cheilopogon xenopterus
[Whitetip flyingfish]

Photo by FAO

Indo-Pacific
Max. Length 24 cm SL
Cypselurus angusticeps Nichols & Breder, 1935

Photo by Photo by FAO
 
Cypselurus angusticeps
[Narrowhead flyingfish]

Photo by Robertson, R.

Eastern Central Pacific
Max. Length 30 cm TL
Cypselurus callopterus (Günther, 1866)

Photo by Photo by Robertson, R.
 
Cypselurus callopterus
[Ornamented flyingfish]

Photo by Vaske Jr., T.

Western Atlantic
Max. Length 30 cm TL
Cypselurus comatus (Mitchill, 1815)

Photo by Photo by Vaske Jr., T.
 
Cypselurus comatus
[Clearwing flyingfish]

Photo by Hansasuta, C.

Indo-West Pacific
Max. Length 18 cm SL
Cypselurus hexazona (Bleeker, 1853)

Photo by Photo by Hansasuta, C.
 
Cypselurus hexazona
[Darkbar flyingfish]

Photo by Suzuki, T.

Northwest Pacific

Cypselurus hiraii Abe, 1953

Photo by Photo by Suzuki, T.
 
Cypselurus hiraii
[]
No picture found

Max. Length 30 cm TL

 
Cypselurus longibarbus
[]

Photo by FAO

Indo-West Pacific
Max. Length 21 cm SL
Cypselurus naresii (Günther, 1889)

Photo by Photo by FAO
 
Cypselurus naresii
[Pharao flyingfish]

Photo by Randall, J.E.

Indo-West Pacific
Max. Length 27.7 cm TL
Cypselurus oligolepis (Bleeker, 1865)

Photo by Photo by Randall, J.E.
 
Cypselurus oligolepis
[Largescale flyingfish]

Photo by Randall, J.E.

Western Pacific
Max. Length 18 cm SL
Cypselurus opisthopus (Bleeker, 1865)

Photo by Photo by Randall, J.E.
 
Cypselurus opisthopus
[Black-finned flyingfish]

Photo by Hansasuta, C.

Indo-West Pacific
Max. Length 27 cm TL
Cypselurus poecilopterus (Valenciennes, 1847)

Photo by Photo by Hansasuta, C.
 
Cypselurus poecilopterus
[Yellowing flyingfish]

Photo by FAO

Eastern Central Pacific
Max. Length 26 cm SL
Cypselurus simus (Valenciennes, 1847)

Photo by Photo by FAO
 
Cypselurus simus
[Short-nosed flyingfish]

Photo by Suzuki, T.

Northwest Pacific
Max. Length 27 cm TL
Cypselurus starksi Abe, 1953

Photo by Photo by Suzuki, T.
 
Cypselurus starksi
[]
No picture found


 
Exocoetus gibbosus
[Oceanic flyingfish]

Photo by FAO

Indo-Pacific and Eastern
Max. Length 20 cm SL
Exocoetus monocirrhus Richardson, 1846

Photo by Photo by FAO
 
Exocoetus monocirrhus
[Barbel flyingfish]

Photo by FAO

South Pacific
Max. Length 24 cm TL
Exocoetus obtusirostris Günther, 1866

Photo by Photo by FAO
 
Exocoetus obtusirostris
[Oceanic two-wing flyingfish]
No picture found


 
Exocoetus peruvianus
[]

Photo by FAO

Widespread in tropical an
Max. Length 30 cm TL
Exocoetus volitans Linnaeus, 1758

Photo by Photo by FAO
 
Exocoetus volitans
[Tropical two-wing flyingfish]

Photo by FAO

Eastern Pacific and Easte
Max. Length 25 cm TL
Fodiator acutus (Valenciennes, 1847)

Photo by Photo by FAO
 
Fodiator acutus
[Sharpchin flyingfish]

Photo by Robertson, R.

Eastern Pacific
Max. Length 19 cm SL
Fodiator rostratus (Günther, 1866)

Photo by Photo by Robertson, R.
 
Fodiator rostratus
[]

Photo by Vaske Jr., T.

Eastern Atlantic
Max. Length 33 cm TL
Hirundichthys affinis (Günther, 1866)

Photo by Photo by Vaske Jr., T.
 
Hirundichthys affinis
[Fourwing flyingfish]

Photo by FAO

Pacific Ocean
Max. Length 23 cm SL
Hirundichthys albimaculatus (Fowler, 1934)

Photo by Photo by FAO
 
Hirundichthys albimaculatus
[Whitespot flyingfish]

Photo by FAO

Indian Ocean
Max. Length 19 cm SL
Hirundichthys coromandelensis (Hornell, 1923)

Photo by Photo by FAO
 
Hirundichthys coromandelensis
[Coromandel flyingfish]
No picture found


 
Hirundichthys ilma
[]
No picture found

Max. Length 19.2 cm SL

 
Hirundichthys indicus
[]

Photo by FAO

Eastern Pacific
Max. Length 21 cm SL
Hirundichthys marginatus (Nichols & Breder, 1928)

Photo by Photo by FAO
 
Hirundichthys marginatus
[Banded flyingfish]

Photo by Australian National Fish Collection, CSIRO

Indo-West Pacific
Max. Length 18 cm SL
Hirundichthys oxycephalus (Bleeker, 1853)

Photo by Photo by Australian National Fish Collection, CSIRO
 
Hirundichthys oxycephalus
[Bony flyingfish]

Photo by NOAA\NMFS\Mississippi Laboratory

Subtropical waters of all
Max. Length 30 cm TL
Hirundichthys rondeletii (Valenciennes, 1847)

Photo by Photo by NOAA\NMFS\Mississippi Laboratory
 
Hirundichthys rondeletii
[Black wing flyingfish]
No picture found

Max. Length 27 cm SL

 
Hirundichthys rufipinnis
[Redfin flyingfish]
No picture found


 
Hirundichthys socotranus
[]

Photo by Villalba, D.O.

Circumglobal
Max. Length 25.1 cm SL
Hirundichthys speculiger (Valenciennes, 1847)

Photo by Photo by Villalba, D.O.
 
Hirundichthys speculiger
[Mirrorwing flyingfish]
No picture found

Max. Length 24 cm SL

 
Hirundichthys volador
[Atlantic blackwing flyingfish]

Photo by Randall, J.E.

Indo-Pacific
Max. Length 20 cm TL
Parexocoetus brachypterus (Richardson, 1846)

Photo by Photo by Randall, J.E.
 
Parexocoetus brachypterus
[Sailfin flyingfish]

Photo by FAO

Western Atlantic

Parexocoetus hillianus (Gosse, 1851)

Photo by Photo by FAO
 
Parexocoetus hillianus
[Flyingfish]

Photo by Hermosa, Jr., G.V.

Indo-Pacific
Max. Length 11 cm SL
Parexocoetus mento (Valenciennes, 1847)

Photo by Photo by Hermosa, Jr., G.V.
 
Parexocoetus mento
[African sailfin flyingfish]

Photo by SFSA

Indo-Pacific
Max. Length 19 cm SL
Prognichthys brevipinnis (Valenciennes, 1847)

Photo by Photo by SFSA
 
Prognichthys brevipinnis
[Shortfin flyingfish]

Photo by FAO

Eastern Atlantic
Max. Length 19.5 cm SL
Prognichthys gibbifrons (Valenciennes, 1847)

Photo by Photo by FAO
 
Prognichthys gibbifrons
[Bluntnose flyingfish]

Photo by FAO

Atlantic Ocean
Max. Length 20.1 cm SL
Prognichthys glaphyrae Parin, 1999

Photo by Photo by FAO
 
Prognichthys glaphyrae
[Gyre flyingfish]

Photo by FAO

Western Atlantic
Max. Length 17.9 cm SL
Prognichthys occidentalis Parin, 1999

Photo by Photo by FAO
 
Prognichthys occidentalis
[]

Photo by FAO

Indo-Pacific
Max. Length 19 cm SL
Prognichthys sealei Abe, 1955

Photo by Photo by FAO
 
Prognichthys sealei
[Sailor flyingfish]

Photo by FAO

Eastern Central Pacific
Max. Length 16 cm SL
Prognichthys tringa Breder, 1928

Photo by Photo by FAO
 
Prognichthys tringa
[Tringa flyingfish]


Sort by: Species Length Year
1 of 1 Jump to:
Export file
n = 71

Scientific Name English Name Distribution Max. Length (cm) Year
Cheilopogon abei Abe's flyingfish Indo-West Pacific 22 SL 1996
Cheilopogon agoo Japanese flyingfish Northwest Pacific 35 SL 1846
Cheilopogon altipennis Smallhead flyingfish Western Indian Ocean 38 SL 1847
Cheilopogon arcticeps White-finned flyingfish Western Pacific 21 SL 1866
Cheilopogon atrisignis Glider flyingfish Indo-Pacific 33 SL 1903
Cheilopogon californicus California flyingfish Eastern Pacific 38 SL 1863
Cheilopogon cyanopterus Margined flyingfish Indo-West Pacific 40 TL 1847
Cheilopogon doederleinii Western Pacific 35 TL 1887
Cheilopogon dorsomacula Backspot flyingfish Pacific Ocean 23 SL 1944
Cheilopogon exsiliens Bandwing flyingfish Western Atlantic 30 TL 1771
Cheilopogon furcatus Spotfin flyingfish Widespread in tropical zo 35 TL 1815
Cheilopogon heterurus Mediterranean flyingfish Eastern Atlantic 40 TL 1810
Cheilopogon hubbsi Blotchwing flyingfish Worldwide in the tropics, 41 TL 1961
Cheilopogon intermedius Intermediate flyingfish Indo-West Pacific 22 SL 1961
Cheilopogon japonicus Northwest Pacific 50 TL 1910
Cheilopogon katoptron Indonesian flyingfish Western Pacific 18 SL 1865
Cheilopogon melanocercus Southwest Pacific 1885
Cheilopogon melanurus Atlantic flyingfish Western Atlantic 32 TL 1847
Cheilopogon milleri Guinean flyingfish Eastern Atlantic 28.5 SL 1970
Cheilopogon nigricans Blacksail flyingfish Indo-West Pacific 28 SL 1840
Cheilopogon olgae Eastern Indian Ocean 23.4 SL 2009
Cheilopogon papilio Butterfly flyingfish Eastern Central Pacific 21 SL 1936
Cheilopogon pinnatibarbatus Bennett's flyingfish Circumglobal 40 SL 1831
Cheilopogon pitcairnensis Eastern Central Pacific 24 SL 1935
Cheilopogon rapanouiensis Easter island flyingfish Pacific Ocean 30 SL 1961
Cheilopogon spilonotopterus Stained flyingfish Indo-Pacific to Eastern P 38 SL 1865
Cheilopogon spilopterus Manyspotted flyingfish Eastern Indian Ocean and 25 SL 1847
Cheilopogon suttoni Sutton's flyingfish Indo-Pacific 30 SL 1938
Cheilopogon unicolor Limpid-wing flyingfish Pacific Ocean 38 TL 1847
Cheilopogon ventralis Eastern Pacific 1935
Cheilopogon xenopterus Whitetip flyingfish Eastern Pacific 1890
Cypselurus angusticeps Narrowhead flyingfish Indo-Pacific 24 SL 1935
Cypselurus callopterus Ornamented flyingfish Eastern Central Pacific 30 TL 1866
Cypselurus comatus Clearwing flyingfish Western Atlantic 30 TL 1815
Cypselurus hexazona Darkbar flyingfish Indo-West Pacific 18 SL 1853
Cypselurus hiraii Northwest Pacific 1953
Cypselurus longibarbus Western Pacific. 30 TL 1961
Cypselurus naresii Pharao flyingfish Indo-West Pacific 21 SL 1889
Cypselurus oligolepis Largescale flyingfish Indo-West Pacific 27.7 TL 1865
Cypselurus opisthopus Black-finned flyingfish Western Pacific 18 SL 1865
Cypselurus poecilopterus Yellowing flyingfish Indo-West Pacific 27 TL 1847
Cypselurus simus Short-nosed flyingfish Eastern Central Pacific 26 SL 1847
Cypselurus starksi Northwest Pacific 27 TL 1953
Exocoetus gibbosus Oceanic flyingfish Eastern Central Pacific 2000
Exocoetus monocirrhus Barbel flyingfish Indo-Pacific and Eastern 20 SL 1846
Exocoetus obtusirostris Oceanic two-wing flyingfish South Pacific 24 TL 1866
Exocoetus peruvianus Southeast Pacific 2000
Exocoetus volitans Tropical two-wing flyingfish Widespread in tropical an 30 TL 1758
Fodiator acutus Sharpchin flyingfish Eastern Pacific and Easte 25 TL 1847
Fodiator rostratus Eastern Pacific 19 SL 1866
Hirundichthys affinis Fourwing flyingfish Eastern Atlantic 33 TL 1866
Hirundichthys albimaculatus Whitespot flyingfish Pacific Ocean 23 SL 1934
Hirundichthys coromandelensis Coromandel flyingfish Indian Ocean 19 SL 1923
Hirundichthys ilma Southwest Pacific 1899
Hirundichthys indicus Indian Ocean 19.2 SL 2013
Hirundichthys marginatus Banded flyingfish Eastern Pacific 21 SL 1928
Hirundichthys oxycephalus Bony flyingfish Indo-West Pacific 18 SL 1853
Hirundichthys rondeletii Black wing flyingfish Subtropical waters of all 30 TL 1847
Hirundichthys rufipinnis Redfin flyingfish Circumglobal 27 SL 1847
Hirundichthys socotranus Western Indian Ocean 1902
Hirundichthys speculiger Mirrorwing flyingfish Circumglobal 25.1 SL 1847
Hirundichthys volador Atlantic blackwing flyingfish Atlantic Ocean. NW Atlan 24 SL 1884
Parexocoetus brachypterus Sailfin flyingfish Indo-Pacific 20 TL 1846
Parexocoetus hillianus Flyingfish Western Atlantic 1851
Parexocoetus mento African sailfin flyingfish Indo-Pacific 11 SL 1847
Prognichthys brevipinnis Shortfin flyingfish Indo-Pacific 19 SL 1847
Prognichthys gibbifrons Bluntnose flyingfish Eastern Atlantic 19.5 SL 1847
Prognichthys glaphyrae Gyre flyingfish Atlantic Ocean 20.1 SL 1999
Prognichthys occidentalis Western Atlantic 17.9 SL 1999
Prognichthys sealei Sailor flyingfish Indo-Pacific 19 SL 1955
Prognichthys tringa Tringa flyingfish Eastern Central Pacific 16 SL 1928



Other identification tools in FishBase


Quick Identification
Identification keys
Identification by morphometrics
Identification by pictures:
          If you already know the Family, go to Search FishBase, select Family and click on 'Identification by pictures' to display all available pictures in FishBase for the family.

          If you already know the Country, go to
Search FishBase, select Country and click on 'Identification by pictures' to display all available pictures in FishBase for the country.

          If you already know the Ecosystem, go to
Search FishBase, select Ecosystem and click on 'Identification by pictures' to display all available pictures in FishBase for the ecosystem.
cfm script by eagbayani, 30.11.04, ,  php script by cmilitante, 05/11/2010 ,  last modified by cmilitante, 14/03/2013