Flying fish
Flying fish do not actually fly by flapping wings, like birds do. Instead, they jump from the water and use their fins to glide through the air.
Their thin, pointy shape helps them gather enough underwater speed to break the surface, and their large, wing-like fins get them up in the air.
By David Starr Jordan and Barton Warren Evermann [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
People think flying fish evolved the ability to glide to escape predators. They have many underwater predators such as tuna, swordfish, marlin and dorado. When they take off into the air they must evade new predators. These are seabirds such as the frigate bird (say frig-ert bird).
People think flying fish evolved the ability to glide to escape predators. They have many underwater predators such as tuna, swordfish, marlin and dorado. When they take off into the air they must evade new predators. These are seabirds such as the frigate bird (say frig-ert bird).
Dorado
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Frigate bird
By Benjamint444. Licensed under GFDL 1.2 via Wikimedia Commons
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Before a flying fish takes off, it swims fast underwater, getting up to 37 miles per hour. Then, moving upward, a flying fish breaks the water's surface. It begins to taxi by rapidly beating its tail under the water.
It then takes to the air, sometimes reaching heights over 1 metre and gliding long distances, up to 200 metres.
Flying fish are attracted to light. Fishermen take advantage of this. They fix lights to tiny boats at night. Flying fish glide out of the water towards the light and fall into the boats. The boats are filled with enough water to keep fish alive, but not enough to allow them to propel themselves out.
Flying fish are attracted to light. Fishermen take advantage of this. They fix lights to tiny boats at night. Flying fish glide out of the water towards the light and fall into the boats. The boats are filled with enough water to keep fish alive, but not enough to allow them to propel themselves out.
Photo by Pierce, C.C. (Charles C.), 1861-1946 [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
Flying fish have unevenly forked tails. Many kinds of flying fish have enlarged pelvic fins as well and are known as four-winged flying fish.
Flying fish live in warm seas throughout the world. There are about 40 different sorts of flying fish.
Flying fish are normally less than 50 centimetres long. That's X fraction of a metre.
Flying fish eat a variety of foods, including plankton.