The sailfin flying fish (Parexocoetus brachypterus) is a member of the flying fish family (Exocoetidae). As is typical of other members of its family, this species has the ability to jump out of the water and glide on hypertrophied fins in order to evade predators. It is considered a “two-winged” flying fish, meaning that it only has enlarged pectoral fins, as opposed to “four-winged” flying fish, which have both enlarged pectoral and pelvic fins. [2]
| Sailfin flying fish | |
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Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Beloniformes |
| Family: | Exocoetidae |
| Genus: | Parexocoetus |
| Species: | P. brachypterus
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| Binomial name | |
| Parexocoetus brachypterus (Richardson, 1846)
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| Synonyms[1] | |
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Description
editThe sailfin flying fish is stocky as far as flying fish are concerned. It has comparatively small pectoral fins and a long dorsal fin relative to other flying fish. One distinguishing feature is its blunt snout. It displays countershading.[3] One average, P. brachypterus measure 110-130 mm in length. Females of the species are usually slightly longer and heavier than the males.[4]
Distribution and habitat
editThis species is dispersed globally in coastal and sub-coastal waters.[3] It is found in the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans.[3][5][6] In the Western Atlantic Ocean, it can be found off the shores of northern Florida to Brazil, as well as in the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea.[3]
Behavior
editWhen spawning sailfin flying fish aggregate in large numbers, with groups estimated to contain up to one million members in some cases. The individuals in such aggregations display high-energy jumping, gliding and swimming.[4] Groups contain an unequal sex ratio, with males being approximately three times more abundant than females. Small groups usually containing 3-4 fish have been observed during spawning events. Such groups are thought to consist of one female being pursued by several males; these observations are consistent with the sex rations observed in the group as a whole.[4] There are two spawning periods during the year, one from September to January, and one from March to August. Unlike other species of flying fish, it is unsure whether or not fertilized eggs need to attach themselves to flotsam. There are reports that this species’ eggs may be free-floating.[4]
Ecology
editLike most other flying fish, the sailfin flying fish feeds primarily on zooplankton.[5] It has also been found to eat fish scales and Sargassum, and is thought to be a generalist.[7] It plays an important ecological role as a prey species for larger predators.[5] Some organisms known to predate on the sailfin flying fish are large fish, dolphinfish in particular, large squids, and seabirds.[8][9] The sailfin flying fish is the only known host to the buccal attaching parasite Glossobius parexocoetii, an isopod in the family Cymothoidae.[10] P. brachypterus has also been seen hosting various other species of parasites.[6]
Importance to humans
editP. brachypterus is generally considered bycatch by the commercial fishing industry.[11] However, like other flying fishes, they can be prepared as salted fish by salting them and leaving them to dry out in the sun.[12]
In Taiwan, the sailfin flying fish and other flying fish are eaten by locals and are also used as bait. Flying fish eggs are also exported to Japan. To the Tao people, an indigenous ethnic group in Taiwan, P. brachypterus is one of the species of flying fish that comprise the bulk of their traditional fishing stock. Important Tao festivals coincide with the arrival and departure of flying fish from local waters. Between 2006-2007, there was a 60% decrease in the numbers of flying fish taken from Taiwanese fisheries, leading to concern from the indigenous people about the long-term viability of the flying fish stock.[5]
As an important prey item of dolphinfish, the sailfin flying fish and other species of flying fish play an important ecological role in maintaining dolphinfish fisheries.[5]
Because of high populations in the eastern Caribbean, some scientists have suggested investigating the feasibility of commercial P. brachypterus fishing in the region.[13]
References
edit- ^ Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Parexocoetus brachypterus". FishBase. April 2019 version.
- ^ Davenport J. 1994. How and why do flying fish fly? Reviews in Fish Biology and Fisheries 4(2): 184-214.
- ^ a b c d McEachren J, Fechhelm JD. 1998. Fishes of the Gulf of Mexico, Vol. 1: Myxiniformes to Gasterosteiformes.
- ^ a b c d Stevens PW, Bennett CK, and Berg JJ. 2003. Flyingfish spawning (Parexocoetus brachypterus) in the northeastern Gulf of Mexico. Environmental Biology of Fishes 61: 71-76.
- ^ a b c d e Chang S, Chang C, Ame E. 2012. “Species composition and distribution of the dominant flying fishes (Exocoetidae) associated with the Kuroshio Current, South China Sea” The Raffles Bulletin of Zoology 60(2): 539-550.
- ^ a b Trilles J, Ravichandran S, Rameshkumar G. 2011. A checklist of the Cymothoidae (Crustacea, Isopoda) recorded from Indian fishes. Acta Parasitologica 56(4): 446-459.
- ^ Casazza TL. 2008. Community Structure and Diets of Fishes Associated with Pelagic Sargassum and Open-water Habitats off North Carolina. University of North Carolina
- ^ Fanning LP, Oxenford HA. 2011. Ecosystem issues pertaining to the flyingfish fisheries of the eastern Caribbean.
- ^ Harrison CS, Hida TS, Seki MP. 1983. Hawaiian Seabird Feeding Ecology. Wildlife Monographs 85: 3-71.
- ^ Martin MB, Bruce NL, and Nowak BF. 2015. Review of the buccal-attaching fish parasite genus Glossobius Schioedte & Meinert, 1883 (Crustacea: Isopoda: Cymothoidae). Zootaxa 3979(2): 337-350.
- ^ Poutiers, Corinna Sommer, Wolfgang Schneider, Jean-Maurice (1996). The living marine resources of Somalia. Rome: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. ISBN 9251037426. Retrieved 8 February 2015.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Shukla, JP. Fish & Fisheries. Rastogi Publications. p. 358. ISBN 9788171338009. Retrieved 8 February 2015.
- ^ Oxenford HA, Mahon R, Hunte W. 1995. DISTRIBUTION AND RELATIVE ABUNDANCE OF FLYINGFISH (EXOCOETIDAE) IN THE EASTERN CARIBBEAN .1. ADULTS Marine Ecology Progress Series117(1-3): 11-23.