Subgenus Poecilocypselurus Bruun, 1935

Type species Exocoetus callopterus Günther, 1866 .

Diagnosis of the subgenus Poecilocypselurus is given in Parin 1961b. The subgenus differs from Cypselurus s.str. in a more anterior pelvic fin origin (it is closer to the posterior end of head than to the origin of caudal fin lower lobe) and in absence of a chin barbel in juveniles (Parin 1961b; Parin & Bogorodsky 2011).

Prior to this study the subgenus Poecilocypselurus included seven species: Cypselurus poecilopterus (Valenciennes), C. simus (Valenciennes), C. callopterus (Günther), C. starksi Abe, C. oligolepis (Bleeker), C. bosha Shakhovskoy & Parin and C. olpar Shakhovskoy & Parin.