Tropical two-wing flyingfish
Exocoetus volitans
Valid name (FishBase; confirmed in Eschmeyer's Catalog of Fishes and WoRMS, October 2026).
- English
- Tropical two-wing flyingfish
- Scientific
- Exocoetus volitans
- Dhivehi
- ހިކި ފުޅަނގިHiki fuihangi
- Maximum size
- Up to about 30 cm (total length); commonly 20 cm (FishBase); MRS 1997 gives max. 18 cm
- Depth and habitat
- Open water over reefs and the atoll shelf, recorded from 0 to 20 m
- IUCN status
- LC · Least ConcernLeast Concern (LC), assessed 2013
Description
A two-winged flyingfish, iridescent dark blue above and silvery white below, with very long greyish pectoral fins. It forms schools in surface waters and launches itself into the air, beating the surface with its long lower tail lobe to extend its glide. It is preyed on by tunas, dolphinfish and swordfish.
In the Maldives
Dhivehi name hiki fuihangi (MRS 1997). MRS notes it occurs in huge numbers off Fuvahmulah every year.
Sources
- fishbase.se /summary/Exocoetus-volitans.html
- fao.org /4/AD471E/AD471E00.htm
- dv.wikipedia.org /wiki/ހިކި_ފުޅަނގި
- commons.wikimedia.org /wiki/File:Schwalbenfisch.jpg
Dhivehi name source: M.R.S. (1997) Fishes of the Maldives (FAO/BOBP MAG/21) gives 'Hiki fuihangi' (Latin form). Thaana from the Dhivehi Wikipedia article 'ހިކި ފުޅަނގި' (derived from the MRS 1997 Dhivehi edition); it matches the Latin form. FLAG: the source states no traditional name was recorded and this descriptive name was coined for the book; it is not an established fishermen's name.