Relevant synonyms None Misidentification None Meristic formula D, 12-14; A, 9-11; P, 13-16; V, 6  photo : Jamila Ben Souissi

SHORT DESCRIPTION Body elongated subcylindrical and somewhat flattened ventrally. Head 4.8-5.1 times in standard length. Upper jaw slightly longer than lower jaw. Snout shorter than eye diameter. Dorsal and anal fins located posteriorly The origin of the dorsal fin is in front of the anal fin origin. Caudal fin deeply forked, its lower lobe much longer than its upper lobe. Pectoral fin very long, reaching at least to the caudal fin base, its length close to 70% of standard length. Pelvic fin abdominal, its length 34-40% of standard length. Body covered with large, easily detachable cycloid scaled. color : dorsal surface bluish with grayish to silvery white belly. Pectoral fin dark gray to black, its outer half with an oblique light bar centrally located. Dorsal fin not pigmented; anal and caudal fins dusky. DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS Parexocoetus mento: pectoral fins not reaching beyond anal fin base. Exocoetus and Hirundichthys spp.: dorsal fin origin above or only slightly (less than 3 rays) in front of anal fin origin. Other species of Cheilopogon in the Mediterranean: lack of transverse light stripe on the pectoral fin and more than a single unbranched ray in pectoral fin. BIOLOGY / ECOLOGY Oceanic. Capable of leaping out of the water and gliding for long distances to escape predators. Feeds on zooplankton. Eggs planktonic with adhesive filaments. Juveniles have pair of chin barbles. habitat : epipelagic, off-shore species.

1st MEDITERRANEAN RECORD Tunisia, 2004. DISTRIBUTION Worldwide : all tropical seas. Mediterranean : Tunisia (Ben Souissi et al., 2005). ESTABLISHMENT SUCCESS Very rare, only two specimens have been collected in the Mediterranean. speculated reasons for success : - MODE OF INTRODUCTION Via Gibraltar. IMPORTANCE TO HUMANS None.

KEY REFERENCES Ben Souissi J., Golani D., Mejri H. and Capapé C., 2005. On the occurrence of Cheilopogon furcatus, in the Mediterranean. Journal of Fish Biology, 67: 1144-1149. Gibbs R.H., 1981. Exocoetidae. In: Fischer W., Bianchi G. and Scott W.B (eds). FAO species identification sheets for fishery purposes. Eastern Central Atlantic; fishing area 34, 47 (in part). FAO of the U.N. Vol. 2., pag. var. Parin N.V., 1986. Exocoetidae. In: Whitehead P.J.P., Bauchot M.L., Hureau J.C., Nielsen J. and Tortonese E. (eds). Fishes of the North-eastern Atlantic and the Mediterranean. Vol. 2, pp 612-619. Paris, UNESCO. FEEDBACK / COMMENTS TO AUTHORS

Last update of the species sheet: 2005 ©ciesm 2002