Home · Exocoetidae · Blunt-snouted flying fish
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
Range
Worldwide in tropical oceans, at the surface, both close to and far from the coast.
Edibility
Not eaten

Want the complete picture on the Blunt-snouted flying fish?

Get the app

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. Leaps out of the water and glides over the surface on enlarged pectoral fins to escape predators.

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. Worldwide in tropical oceans, at the surface, both close to and far from the coast.

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. None required: this species is harmless to humans.

Is the Blunt-snouted flying fish edible?

The Blunt-snouted flying fish is not usually eaten.

More photos

Blunt-snouted flying fish (Exocoetus obtusirostris) — Exocoetidae — 2
iNaturalist ((c) Nick Leggatt, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Blunt-snouted flying fish (Exocoetus obtusirostris) — Exocoetidae — 3
iNaturalist ((c) Nick Leggatt, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))

Easily confused with

These species look like the Blunt-snouted flying fish and live in the same waters.

Fin

Want the complete picture on the Blunt-snouted flying fish?

Point your camera at the fish and Fin names the species in seconds. Free, and the Blunt-snouted flying fish is one of 12,519 species in the app.

Get the app →

All data

Identification

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; Two-wing flyingfish; Two winged flying fish; Twowing flying fish 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
Natural range
Worldwide in tropical oceans, at the surface, both close to and far from the coast. inferred
Origin
Native sourced

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore sourced
Diet (detail)
Zooplankton sourced
Social behaviour
Schooling inferred
Territorial
No inferred
Activity
Diurnal inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred
Seasonality
Present year-round in its habitat; no pronounced seasonality known. inferred
Special features
Leaps out of the water and glides over the surface on enlarged pectoral fins to escape predators. sourced

For anglers

Edibility
Not eaten sourced
Fishing method
Angling with lures or (dead/live) baitfish by trolling, casting or drift fishing in open water. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless sourced
First aid
None required: this species is harmless to humans. sourced

Status & sources

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

Same genus Exocoetus

More from the family Exocoetidae

Fin

Want the complete picture on the Blunt-snouted flying fish?

Point your camera at the fish and Fin names the species in seconds. Free, and the Blunt-snouted flying fish is one of 12,519 species in the app.

Get the app →
Is this the Blunt-snouted flying fish? Get the app