94 H aw aiian F is h e s 



Larval Half -Beak 



50-6 Hemiramphus pietschmanni Schindler 

 This larval form of a half-beak was described as new species. Its 

 identity is not known. 



THE FLYING FISH FAMILY 



51 Family Exocoetidae 



The family of the flying fishes is famous for the gliding and sailing 

 ability which its members exhibit. In reality they glide rather than fly. 

 Gaining speed under water with the aid of their tail, these fishes rise 

 to the surface, spread their fins, and sail a short distance along the surface 

 of the water. When they lose their speed, they fall back into the water 

 to start off on another leap. 



The members of the family have long, slender bodies and reach a 

 length of eighteen inches. They are usually metallic-blue or bluish-green 

 on the back and silvery beneath. They have short jaws and enlarged 

 pectoral fins. 



The flying fishes inhabit all the warm seas of the world, swimming 

 near the surface in schools. The eggs of these fishes are attached to 

 floating seaweeds. Unfortunately the flying fishes have many enemies. 

 Dolphins and porpoises, the dolphin fish, tunnies, bonitoes, and albacores 

 prey upon them. 



Of more than sixty-five known species in this family, at least thirteen 

 are known from the Hawaiian Islands. 



Malolo 



Also known as the Puhikii or Short- Winged Flying Fish 

 51-1 Parexocoetus brachypterus (Richardson) 



Plate III, Figure 5 



The malolo is the most numerous of the flying fishes about the 

 Hawaiian Islands. The upper part of the body is usually a dark ultra- 

 marine blue while the lower surface is a silvery white. They reach a 

 length of about seven inches. 



Schools of this fish are common about the Hawaiian Islands during 

 the summertime and may be seen near harbors and shorelines. It used 

 to be a common fish in Honolulu markets during the summer season. 



It is distributed throughout the Indo-Pacific area from China to the 

 Hawaiian Islands. 



