Parexocoetus mento (Valenciennes 1847) —African sailfin flyingfish

Taxonomy. First record from Lebanon as Parexocoetus brachypterus (Richardson 1846) by George et al. (1964: 14); as Parexocoetus mento in George & Athanassiou (1967: 281); subsequently recorded as Parexocoetus mento (Valenciennes) by Mouneimné (1977: 62); as Parexocoetus mento (Valenciennes 1846) by Mouneimné (2002: 102– 103); recently recorded as Parexocoetus mento by Bariche et al. (2007: 111). Material in collection: BMNH and USNM (as P. brachypterus).

Distribution. Red Sea, Indo-West Pacific: East Africa east to Marshall Islands and Fiji, north to southern Japan, south to northern Australia; Mediterranean Sea (Red Sea immigrant).

Conservation. IUCN: Global (NE). Capture and threats: Unknown. Occurrence: Common. Non-indigenous species, no conservation action needed.