Found in near-shore surface waters, never spread to open sea . Capable of leaping out of the water and gliding above the surface .
Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9 - 12; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 10 - 12. Dorsal fin mostly blackish; pectorals and caudal greyish, other fins transparent .: elongated.
Behavioural data for African sailfin flyingfish is currently being reviewed.
Semelparous, most die after a single spawning .
Marine; pelagic-neritic; oceanodromous ; depth range 0 - 20 m. Tropical; 30°N - 23°S, 20°E - 178°W East Africa, including the Red Sea and the Gulf, to southern Japan, Marshall Islands, Fiji, the Arafura Sea (Ref.
| Scientific Name | Author | Year | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exocoetus gryllus | Klunzinger | 1871 | Synonym |
| Exocoetus mento | Valenciennes | 1847 | Synonym |
| Exocoetus mesogaster | Bloch | 1795 | Heterotypic |
| Paraxocoetus mento | - | - | Synonym |
| Paraxocoetus mento atlanticus | Bruun | 1933 | Synonym |
| Parexocoetus mento atlanticus | Bruun | 1933 | Synonym |
| Parexocoetus mento mento | - | - | Synonym |
| Parexocoetus mesogaster | Bloch | 1795 | Synonym |
Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 4 records indexed .
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