Bluntnose Flyingfish Identification Guide
Identify the Bluntnose Flyingfish by its short, rounded snout and long, wing-like pectoral fins.
Read the full Bluntnose Flyingfish encyclopedia entry →Key identification features
- Stocky, torpedo-shaped body with a notably short, blunt, rounded snout rather than a pointed one
- Dark blue to blue-green back contrasting with silvery-white sides and belly
- Very long pectoral fins that extend well past the start of the dorsal fin, used for gliding above the water
- Pelvic fins are also elongated, reaching near the anal fin base, aiding stable gliding
- Forked caudal fin with the lower lobe distinctly longer than the upper lobe
- Adults typically run 8-12 inches in length
Common look-alikes
- Margined Flyingfish: has visible dark margins or bands on the pectoral fins, which the Bluntnose Flyingfish lacks
- Sharpchin flyingfish: shows a pointed rather than blunt, rounded snout profile
- Four-winged flyingfishes in general: distinguished from the Bluntnose by snout shape and pectoral fin coloration once out of the water
Where you'll see one
Bluntnose Flyingfish occur in warm offshore surface waters of the tropical and subtropical Atlantic and Pacific, often seen skipping and gliding away from boat wakes or predators.
Frequently asked questions
What is the single best clue for identifying a Bluntnose Flyingfish?
Focus on the snout: it is short and rounded rather than pointed, which is the trait that gives this species its name and separates it from sharper-nosed flyingfish.
How do I tell a Bluntnose Flyingfish from a Margined Flyingfish?
Check the pectoral fins for dark margins or banding; the Margined Flyingfish shows these markings clearly while the Bluntnose Flyingfish's pectoral fins are more uniformly colored.