Author: (Valenciennes, 1846)
Hirundichthys rondeletii (Valenciennes, 1846)
Status in World Register of Marine Species:
Accepted name: Hirundichthys rondeletii (Valenciennes, 1847) (updated 2009-06-25)
Diagnosis: dorsal finrays 10-12; anal finrays 11-13 (the former with 2 less rays than the latter); pectoral finrays 16-19 (2 unbranched). Gillrakers 24-29 on first arch. Predorsal scales 27-31. No palatine teeth. Colour: iridescent blue above, silvery below; pectoral fins dark purplishbrown with narrow pale posterior margin. Size: to 25 cm.
Habitat: epipelagic in oceanic waters. Food: no data. Reproduction: spawning in summer in Mediterranean; eggs with bunch of filaments opposed by a single filament on opposite pole; juveniles without barbels.
Distribution: in south-western part of Clofnam area and in the Mediterranean, where a separate population probably migrates to the south-eastern part in winter; occasionally northwards to Spain and the English Channel. Elsewhere, in subtropical waters of all oceans.
Eggs, larvae and yound stages. D'Ancona, 1931: 165-168, pl. 9 (fug. 20), pl. 10 (fig. 1-12) | Breder, 1938: 87-89, fig. 45 | Kovalelvskaya, 1972: 57-64, fig. 10-13.
Otoliths (sagitta). No data.