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Manyspotted flyingfish (Cheilopogon spilopterus) — Exocoetidae

Manyspotted flyingfish

Cheilopogon spilopterus
Family: Exocoetidae

The Manyspotted flyingfish (Cheilopogon spilopterus) is a saltwater fish of the family Exocoetidae that grows up to 25 cm.

Length
25 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
0.0–20.0 m
Behaviour
Schooling
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Open water
Danger
Harmless
Range
Asia: Australia, China, Taiwan/Ch Taipei, Fiji, Kiribati, Guam and others
Edibility
Commonly eaten

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Description

The Manyspotted flyingfish is a flyingfish (Exocoetidae) from the Indo-West Pacific. The species grows to about 25 cm and has a streamlined, silver-blue body with strongly enlarged, wing-like pectoral fins. When threatened it shoots out of the water and glides over the surface to escape predators. As a schooling open-water fish it eats zooplankton. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Manyspotted flyingfish?

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

Where does the Manyspotted flyingfish live?

The Manyspotted flyingfish lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around open water. Asia: Australia, China, Taiwan/Ch Taipei, Fiji, Kiribati, Guam and others

How big does the Manyspotted flyingfish get?

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

Is the Manyspotted flyingfish dangerous to humans?

No, the Manyspotted 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.

Is the Manyspotted flyingfish edible?

Yes, the Manyspotted flyingfish is commonly eaten.

More photos

Manyspotted flyingfish (Cheilopogon spilopterus) — Exocoetidae — 2
Australian National Fish Collection, CSIRO (CC BY-NC 4.0) via GBIF
Manyspotted flyingfish (Cheilopogon spilopterus) — Exocoetidae — 3
iNaturalist ((c) Anna, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Manyspotted flyingfish (Cheilopogon spilopterus) — Exocoetidae — 4
iNaturalist ((c) huangmingpan, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Manyspotted flyingfish (Cheilopogon spilopterus) — Exocoetidae — 5
Wikimedia Commons — Lankester Edwin Ray (Public domain)
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All data

Identification

English name
Manyspotted flyingfish sourced
Scientific name
Cheilopogon spilopterus
Family
Exocoetidae
Other names
Flyingfish; Indian-spotted flying fish; Indian-spotted flying-fish; Lesser spotted flying-fish; Manyspot flyingfish; Black-tipped flyingfish verified

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
25.0 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
Natural range
Asia: Australia, China, Taiwan/Ch Taipei, Fiji, Kiribati, Guam and others 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

Edibility
Commonly eaten inferred
Fishing method
Can be caught with natural bait or lures, matched to the size and habitat of the species. inferred
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 Cheilopogon

More from the family Exocoetidae

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