First record of Cheilopogon xenopterus (Refinesque, 1810) (Beloniformes, Exocoetidae), Whitetip Flyingfish, on the Chilean coast

We report the incidental capture of an adult flying fish, Cheilopogon xenopterus , off the coast of Arica, northern Chile. This marks the first documented occurrence of the species in Chilean waters and a notable southward range extension. Its presence, outside El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) periods, may indicate shifts in average sea surface temperatures. This finding highlights the importance of ongoing ichthyofaunal monitoring in northern Chile to detect early signs of climate and oceanographic changes affecting species distribution.