Bandwing Flyingfish

The Bandwing Flyingfish (Cheilopogon exsiliens) is a small flyingfish in the family Exocoetidae, named for the dark crossbands that mark its otherwise translucent pectoral wing fins. It belongs to the "four-wing" genus Cheilopogon, using both enlarged pectoral and pelvic fins for gliding above the surface. The species is found in warm surface waters of the tropical and subtropical Atlantic Ocean, including the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea. Like other flyingfish, it forms an important part of open-ocean food webs, serving as prey for tunas, dolphinfish, billfish, and seabirds. It is common throughout its range and not considered threatened.

Field marks of the Bandwing Flyingfish:

• Slender, torpedo-shaped body, relatively small among flyingfishes at roughly 15-22 cm
• Dark blue back contrasting with bright silvery sides and belly
• Translucent to lightly tinted pectoral fins crossed by distinct dark bands, the species' key identifying feature
• Smaller but still enlarged pelvic fins forming a second wing pair
• Forked tail with an elongated lower lobe used for surface takeoffs

The banded pattern on otherwise clear pectoral fins distinguishes the Bandwing Flyingfish from species with solid dark or mottled wings, such as the Blackwing or California Flyingfish. Its comparatively small adult size also helps separate it from larger Cheilopogon relatives.

Bandwing Flyingfish live at the surface of warm, open waters of the tropical and subtropical Atlantic Ocean, including the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea, generally in sea temperatures above about 22°C. As an epipelagic species, they remain in the upper few meters of the water column throughout their lives, typically well offshore over deep water, though they are occasionally encountered closer to shore where deep water lies near the coast. Their range overlaps broadly with other Atlantic flyingfish species, with which they are commonly seen gliding over the same surface waters.

The Bandwing Flyingfish escapes predators using the classic flyingfish glide: accelerating underwater, breaking the surface, and spreading its large pectoral and pelvic fins to soar above the waves, often skimming its lower tail lobe across the water for extra propulsion. It typically occurs in loose surface aggregations and feeds on small planktonic organisms. As with other flyingfish, it is an important prey species for tunas, dolphinfish, billfish, and seabirds, and is attracted to lights at night. Spawning takes place at the surface, with eggs bearing sticky filaments that attach to floating seaweed or debris until hatching.