Fish of the Day: Flying Fish

Flying fish are a group of marine species that belong to the family Exocoetidae (order Beloniformes, Class Actinopterygii). There are approximately 64 species from seven to nine genera. Flying fish are found in all the worlds major oceans, particularly the warmer subtropical and tropical regions. Of course their most noticeable feature are their oversized pectoral fins, which they spread out like wings as they glide through the air. The enlarged lower lobe of their tail acts like an outboard motor, the speedy sideways motion of the tail allows the fish to gain height from the surface of the water. This morphology allows the fish to 'fly' out of water for extended periods of time with glides usually lasting for 50m, but upto 100m . This proves to be an effective predator avoidance strategy. Below is an example of a 'flying' flying fish.