From March 1994 to May 1998, in the area between 2 degrees N and 14 degrees
S, and from 28 degrees W to 41 degrees W, 1652 Exocoetidae were collected
by research vessels and artisanal fishery boats, as part of the REVIZEE Pro
ject (Brazilian Economic Exclusive Zone Assessment Program). Eleven species
were identified: Cypselurus comatus, C. cyanopterus, C. exiliens, C. heter
urus, C. melanurus, Exocoetus volitans, Hirundichthys affinis, H. speculige
r, Oxyporhamphus micropterus similis, Parexocoetus brachypterus and Prognic
hthys gibbifrons. The species C. cyanopterus and H. affinis are abundant in
the region, the former in the Archipelago of Sao Pedro e Sao Paulo, used a
s tuna bait and the latter is the main product of the artisanal fishery in
the State of Rio Grande do Norte. As a potential resource and an important
part of the epipelagic food chain, they were considered target species in t
he scope of REVIZEE Project.