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Humpback flyingfish (Exocoetus gibbosus) — Exocoetidae

Humpback flyingfish

Exocoetus gibbosus
Family: Exocoetidae

The Humpback flyingfish (Exocoetus gibbosus) is a saltwater fish of the family Exocoetidae that grows up to 25 cm.

Length
25 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
0.0–? m
Behaviour
Schooling
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Open water
Danger
Harmless
Range
Oceania: Tonga

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Description

The Humpback flyingfish is a flyingfish (Exocoetidae) from the open surface water of the tropical Indian and Pacific Oceans. The species grows to about 25 cm and has a slender, streamlined, blue-silver body with greatly enlarged, wing-like pectoral fins and an uneven tail. To escape predators it shoots from the water and glides long distances through the air. As a schooling fish it snaps at small zooplankton. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Humpback flyingfish?

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

Where does the Humpback flyingfish live?

The Humpback flyingfish lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around open water. Oceania: Tonga

How big does the Humpback flyingfish get?

The Humpback flyingfish grows to a maximum of about 25 cm.

Is the Humpback flyingfish dangerous to humans?

No, the Humpback flyingfish is harmless to humans. This species is harmless to humans. No specific first aid is needed. Still handle the fish with care: mind the fin rays and the sharp edges of the gill cover, and rinse any scratch with clean water and cover it. For a dirty or deep wound check tetanus status.

More photos

Humpback flyingfish (Exocoetus gibbosus) — Exocoetidae — 2
Jacob Crisp (CC BY-NC 4.0) via GBIF — iNaturalist
Humpback flyingfish (Exocoetus gibbosus) — Exocoetidae — 3
iNaturalist ((c) Mark, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Humpback flyingfish (Exocoetus gibbosus) — Exocoetidae — 4
iNaturalist ((c) Simon Gorta, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Humpback flyingfish (Exocoetus gibbosus) — Exocoetidae — 5
iNaturalist ((c) Kye Turnbull, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Fin

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All data

Identification

English name
Humpback flyingfish sourced
Scientific name
Exocoetus gibbosus
Family
Exocoetidae
Other names
Oceanic two-wing flyingfish; Oceanic flyingfish verified

Appearance

Size class
Medium
Max length (cm)
25 inferred
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
Natural range
Oceania: Tonga sourced
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

Social behaviour
Schooling sourced
Territorial
No inferred
Activity
Diurnal inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes inferred
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred
Seasonality
Present year-round in its habitat; no pronounced seasonality known. inferred

For anglers

Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless verified
First aid
This species is harmless to humans. No specific first aid is needed. Still handle the fish with care: mind the fin rays and the sharp edges of the gill cover, and rinse any scratch with clean water and cover it. For a dirty or deep wound check tetanus status. verified

Status & sources

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

Same genus Exocoetus

More from the family Exocoetidae

Fin

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