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Narrowhead flyingfish (Cypselurus angusticeps) — Exocoetidae

Narrowhead flyingfish

Cypselurus angusticeps
Family: Exocoetidae

The Narrowhead flyingfish (Cypselurus angusticeps) 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
Behaviour
Schooling
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Open water
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Commonly eaten

Description

The Narrowhead flyingfish is a flyingfish (Exocoetidae) from the sunlit surface water of the open sea around Australia and the Indo-West Pacific. The species grows to about 25 cm and has a streamlined, silver-blue body with greatly enlarged, wing-like pectoral fins with which, after a sprint, it glides through the air over tens of metres to evade predators. As a social fish it snaps at plankton and small crustaceans in the surface layer. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Narrowhead flyingfish?

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

Where does the Narrowhead flyingfish live?

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

How big does the Narrowhead flyingfish get?

The Narrowhead flyingfish grows to a maximum of about 24 cm.

Is the Narrowhead flyingfish dangerous to humans?

No, the Narrowhead flyingfish is harmless to humans.

Is the Narrowhead flyingfish edible?

Yes, the Narrowhead flyingfish is commonly eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Smalkop-vliegende vis sourced
English name
Narrowhead flyingfish sourced
Scientific name
Cypselurus angusticeps
Family
Exocoetidae
Other names
Narrowhead flyingfish verified

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
24.0 verified
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
Max depth (m)
20.0 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

Edibility
Commonly eaten inferred
Fishing method
Te vangen met natuurlijk aas of kunstaas, afgestemd op de grootte en het leefgebied van de soort. inferred
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 Cypselurus

More from the family Exocoetidae

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