Work

Distribution and habitat occurrence of flying fish (Exocoetidae) along a longitudinal gradient in the Southeast Pacific Ocean

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: We characterized the distribution and relative density of flying fish across the Salas & Gómez, Nazca and Juan Fernández ridges to evaluate their relationship with key oceanographic variables using standardized visual strip-transect surveys. Our results show that flying fish have a highly restricted distribution, occurring mainly in warm, oligotrophic waters, with peak densities concentrated around the Salas & Gómez Ridge. These observations offer new insight into the environmental constraints shaping Exocoetidae distribution, underscoring the need for further research on this family in the Southeast Pacific.

Source: Journal of Fish Biology

DOI: 10.1111/jfb.70716

Authors: Matías Portflitt‐Toro, Juan Serratosa, Nicolás Luna, Guillermo Luna‐Jorquera

Institutions: Universidad Católica del Norte, Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel

Language: English

Topic: Marine and fisheries research

Subfield: Global and Planetary Change

Field: Environmental Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDG: Life below water

Open Access status: bronze

Funder: Agencia Nacional de Investigación y Desarrollo