Atlantic Flyingfish

The Atlantic Flyingfish (Cheilopogon melanurus) is a member of the family Exocoetidae, the flyingfishes, known for their ability to glide above the ocean surface using enlarged, wing-like fins. It belongs to the genus Cheilopogon, whose members are often called "four-wing flyingfishes" because both the pectoral and pelvic fins are enlarged for gliding. This species is widespread in the warm surface waters of the tropical and subtropical Atlantic Ocean, including the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea. It is an important prey species for many pelagic predators and seabirds, forming a key link in open-ocean food webs. It is not considered threatened and remains abundant throughout its range.

Field marks of the Atlantic Flyingfish:

• Slender, torpedo-shaped body, typically 17-30 cm long
• Dark blue-black dorsal surface contrasting with bright silvery sides and belly
• Very large, wing-like pectoral fins, often with dusky or blackish shading, used for gliding
• Smaller but still enlarged pelvic fins forming a second pair of "wings"
• Deeply forked tail with a distinctly longer lower lobe that powers surface-skimming takeoffs

The four-wing arrangement (both pectoral and pelvic fins enlarged) separates Cheilopogon species from two-wing flyingfishes such as Exocoetus, which have only enlarged pectoral fins. Coloration and fin proportions vary slightly among Cheilopogon species, making precise identification sometimes difficult without close examination.

Atlantic Flyingfish live in the upper few meters of the open ocean, well offshore in warm tropical and subtropical waters where sea temperatures generally exceed 20°C. They range throughout the tropical and subtropical Atlantic, including the Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean Sea, and waters off West Africa and the southeastern United States. As epipelagic fish, they spend their entire lives near the surface far from the seafloor, occasionally straying into shelf waters. They are most often encountered far from shore over deep water, gliding just above the waves.

This species is famous for its gliding escape response: when pursued by predators such as dolphinfish or tuna, it builds speed underwater, breaks the surface, and spreads its wing-like fins to glide for tens of meters, sometimes skimming the water with its lower tail lobe for extra thrust. Atlantic Flyingfish typically school in loose aggregations near the surface and feed on planktonic organisms. They are attracted to lights at night, and lay sticky eggs attached to floating debris or seaweed. As a major forage species, they support many oceanic predators and seabirds.