Margined Flyingfish (Cheilopogon cyanopterus)

Calheta, Madeira. Dec 28, 2021

comments (6)

Ferdy Christant

Lion

This makes my day, love it. Good job! Posted 3 years ago
1. Thibaud Aronson
  
  Lion
  
  Thanks!! Posted 3 years ago

Barry

Lion

Cool photo - question, how did you identify the species? I have seen flying fish on several occasions (most notably around the Galapagos) but could never positively identify the species. Posted 3 years ago
1. Thibaud Aronson
  
  Lion
  
  I didn't - a fish guy on inaturalist did. This was his comment under his C. cyanopterus ID: "Probably . The other option could be C. exsiliens, but its presence in that area of the Atlantic needs to be confirmed.
  C. melanurus lacks the black spot on the dorsal fin, so it's almost certainly not that species."
  (I had IDed it as melanurus, because that was how my previous photo from Tenerife had been identified.) Posted 3 years ago
2. 1. Barry
    
    Lion
    
    Aah, the good old "ask the naturalist" technique. I know it well and have often used it. I tried on my own to use the internet but couldn't narrow it down more than to 2 species. A good photo like yours helps a lot - Flying Fish are usually visible for only very short periods of time and so very challenging to identify. Posted 3 years ago
  2. 1. Thibaud Aronson
      
      Lion
      
      Tell me about it! There were a number of shoals of young flying fish jumping around the boat that day, and only on the third shoal did I manage to get a pic! Posted 3 years ago