Black Finned Flying Fish

Mirrorwing flyingfish
Hirundichthys speculiger
(Valenciennes, 1847)

Found in oceanic surface waters, down to 20 m. Rapid swimmers, when frightened, they can break through the surface and glide great distances on their extended pectoral fins.

Body dark, iridescent blue above, silvery white below; dorsal and caudal fins greyish, other fins hyaline (Ref. 2797). Juveniles elongate, paired fins mottled (Ref. 2797).

Oceanodromous. Migrating within oceans typically between spawning and different feeding areas, as tunas do. Migrations should be cyclical and predictable and cover more than 100 km.

Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10 - 12; Analspines: 0; Analsoft rays: 11 - 13

Epipelagic species which inhabits oceanic waters (Ref. 6523).

Found in oceanic surface waters (Ref. 9839). Caught in surface waters over the depths 80-10,400 meters, usually 2000 to 6000 m (mean 4423 m) (Ref. 93339). Spawns throughout the year in warm waters (Ref. 6523).

fisheries: minor commercial; price category: medium; price reliability: very questionable: based on ex-vessel price for species in this family

廣泛分布於全世界之熱帶水域。臺灣分布於南部、東部、蘭嶼及澎湖水域等。

每年春夏季隨著黑潮洄游至臺灣東南沿海，是主要的漁期。可利用流刺網或定置網等漁法捕獲，或編織草蓆採收飛魚卵。成魚適合紅燒或煮湯，亦可曬乾食用；魚卵則利用於鹽漬，風味不錯。

體延長，略側扁，較一般飛魚為細。體長為頭長之4.2-4.5倍，為體高之5.8-6.3倍。吻鈍短。口開於前端，上下頜約略等長；兩頜有齒，齒細小；腭骨有齒。鼻孔兩對，大形，近於眼前。鰓裂寬，鰓膜在喉峽部游離；鰓耙數5-7 +14-22 = 21-29。鰾大，向後延長；腸簡單，無幽門及盲囊。體被圓鱗，大而薄，易脫落；頭部多少被鱗；側線甚低，近腹緣，在胸部不分枝，具鱗51-56；背前鱗31-36；側線上鱗6-7。背鰭無棘，位於體之後部，具軟條9-12，鰭膜上無黑色斑；臀鰭起點在背鰭第3軟條基底之前，具軟條10-13；胸鰭末端到背鰭之後部，第1鰭條不分歧，一致呈暗色，中部及鰭下緣具淡色帶；腹鰭長，末端達臀鰭基底，其基底至尾鰭中央鰭條末端之距離略等於至眼中央之距離，前半部淡色，後半部暗色；尾鰭發達，深開叉，下葉較長。脊椎骨數45-47。幼魚無鬚。

大洋洄游性魚種，生活於近海或淺海域之表水層，同時也分布於開放水域。受驚嚇時會利用其特化的胸鰭躍出水面作長距離的滑翔。主要以橈腳類及端腳類等浮游生物為食。所產的卵團具有黏絲，可附著於漂游物或底棲海藻上。