Flying fish
Exocoetus sp.
Where is it found?
Marine
Diet and foraging method
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Feeds in the water column
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Key adaptations
Flying fish have adapted the ability to leap out of the water and glide to avoid predators. They have large, wing-like pectoral fins and sometimes pelvic fins too. Their body is torpedo shaped and rigid which makes them streamlined in the water and when gliding through the air.
Social organisation and mating system
N/A
Did you know that...?
In order to fly, flying fish can reach speeds of nearly 40 miles an hour underwater, and once out of the water can glide for up to 20-25 meters!
Taxonomy
Picture credits:
Maps from: http://species.mol.org/species/
"AyaTU" by Izuzuki - http://www.izuzuki.com/. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:AyaTU.jpg#/media/File:AyaTU.jpg"Hirundichthys, Juvenile (Flying Fish)" by Smithsonian Institute - http://www.flickr.com/photos/25053835@N03/2848467651/in/photolist-5kH9ce-73h29F-8VkCgi-dWGdqW-eFtoy6-dzNY4V-dzNYEx-dzNXNv-8aGRHA-6WUQpV-7vx8sG-7WN7b4-dPti42-dzUrrq-7WN3Zx-dzNYPB-dzUqvC-ei1rvi-dzNYdF-dzNWMt-dzUrFw-a2MZtq-dqYVEm-dzUsxj-dzUrym-e6E8RJ-8cGHYt-63cRZD-6uMXCH-e6E8wJ-dzUqtC-6WYND7-dzUqG1-e6ytVF-7WNbVx-61ZVXk-63zaMM-62d3yq-7UZc3Z-edDJVQ-8cKYCS-7LqMAf-bxWnKo-da6MqB-4juKit-4jyfVh-9KdRTX-7vtnBF-7vxbH1-8cGBMH-5X2CTu. Licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Hirundichthys,_Juvenile_(Flying_Fish).jpg#/media/File:Hirundichthys,_Juvenile_(Flying_Fish).jpg
"FMIB 35927 Common Flying Fish" by John Stevenson Bushnan - Bushnan, John Stevenson (1843) Fishes : Particularly Their Structure and Economical Uses, Naturalist's Library, v.35 : Ichthyology vol.1, London: Chatto and Windus. Licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:FMIB_35927_Common_Flying_Fish.jpeg#/media/File:FMIB_35927_Common_Flying_Fish.jpeg
"AyaTU" by Izuzuki - http://www.izuzuki.com/. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:AyaTU.jpg#/media/File:AyaTU.jpg"Hirundichthys, Juvenile (Flying Fish)" by Smithsonian Institute - http://www.flickr.com/photos/25053835@N03/2848467651/in/photolist-5kH9ce-73h29F-8VkCgi-dWGdqW-eFtoy6-dzNY4V-dzNYEx-dzNXNv-8aGRHA-6WUQpV-7vx8sG-7WN7b4-dPti42-dzUrrq-7WN3Zx-dzNYPB-dzUqvC-ei1rvi-dzNYdF-dzNWMt-dzUrFw-a2MZtq-dqYVEm-dzUsxj-dzUrym-e6E8RJ-8cGHYt-63cRZD-6uMXCH-e6E8wJ-dzUqtC-6WYND7-dzUqG1-e6ytVF-7WNbVx-61ZVXk-63zaMM-62d3yq-7UZc3Z-edDJVQ-8cKYCS-7LqMAf-bxWnKo-da6MqB-4juKit-4jyfVh-9KdRTX-7vtnBF-7vxbH1-8cGBMH-5X2CTu. Licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Hirundichthys,_Juvenile_(Flying_Fish).jpg#/media/File:Hirundichthys,_Juvenile_(Flying_Fish).jpg
"FMIB 35927 Common Flying Fish" by John Stevenson Bushnan - Bushnan, John Stevenson (1843) Fishes : Particularly Their Structure and Economical Uses, Naturalist's Library, v.35 : Ichthyology vol.1, London: Chatto and Windus. Licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:FMIB_35927_Common_Flying_Fish.jpeg#/media/File:FMIB_35927_Common_Flying_Fish.jpeg
