First report of five flying fishes (Teleostei: Beloniformes: Exocoetidae) from West Bengal coast

摘要

Flying fishes (Beloniformes: Exocoetidae), a group of interesting marine fishes, having circum-global distribution, till date were represented by only three species in coastal waters of West Bengal, namely, Cypselurus poecilopterus, Exocoetus volitans and erroneously listed Parexocoetus brachypterus. The present paper recorded five more flying fishes, viz., Cheilopogon intermedius; C. suttoni; C. cyanopterus; Cypselurus naressi and Hirundichthys speculiger, with material evidence from West Bengal coast and also confirms occurrence of Parexocoetus mento, recorded earlier. The range extension of these flying fishes may be attributed to exploration of new fishing grounds within the Indian EEZ or even to climate change impact.