Flying fish are ray-finned fish belonging to the family Exocoetidae in the order Beloniformes. While they cannot truly fly like birds, they are capable of leaping out of the water and gliding through the air, a unique adaptation that gives them their name. This group comprises around 60 marine species primarily found in warm tropical and subtropical waters across the Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian Oceans.
Characterized by their large, wing-like pectoral fins, flying fish spread them to generate lift while gliding. Their deeply forked tails provide additional thrust, allowing them to extend their time in the air.
On average, these fish measure between 7 and 12 in (17 to 30 cm), but the California flying fish may reach up to 19 in (48 cm). In contrast, the African sailfin flying fish measures only about 4 in (10 cm) in length.
They have a highly streamlined, torpedo-shaped body with a pair of enlarged, wing-like pectoral fins. However, some species, such as the California flying fish, possess an additional pair of enlarged pelvic fins, giving them a four-winged appearance.
Their tails are unevenly forked, with a longer bottom lobe that helps generate enough speed for flight without sinking their bodies underwater.
The term Exocoetidae derives from the Latin word Exocoetus, which in turn stems from the Ancient Greek word Exōkoitos, meaning ‘sleeping outside.’ Such etymology is based on an ancient erroneous belief that flying fish leave water to sleep on land.
Currently, around 60 species are divided into 4 subfamilies and 7 genera.
These fish are exclusively marine and inhabit oceans worldwide, with the highest concentrations found in warm tropical and subtropical waters, particularly in the Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian Oceans. In the United States, flying fish are found in the highest concentrations along the warmer southern stretches of the Pacific and Atlantic coasts, particularly off California, Florida, and Georgia.
They typically live between the surface level and depths of about 660 ft (200 m), which comprises the epipelagic zone.
Although their primary diet comprises plankton, they may supplement it with small crustaceans, fish eggs, and fish larvae when available.
Though they are named flying fish, they do not fly like birds by flapping their pectoral fins. Instead, they steadily glide through the air, primarily to avoid predators underwater.
They first build up speed in the water (sometimes as high as 70 km/h, if a predator is nearby) and swim upwards to the surface by keeping their fins folded tightly against their bodies. Their tail remains submerged in water, beating rapidly to add additional thrust.
On reaching the surface, the fish lifts the tail out of the water and glides in the air, typically at a speed of about 16 km/hr (10 mph). A few species can cover horizontal distances of up to 400 m (1,300 ft) by gliding, while others reach a height of up to 6 m (20 ft) above the sea surface.
As the glide ends, the fish fold their pectoral fins and dive back into the water. They may also dip their tails and push upwards again for a fresh glide (compound gliding).
These fish typically survive for about five years in the wild.
Flying fish reproduce by spawning in open waters, where females lay eggs that adhere to seaweed and floating debris using sticky filaments. Males fertilize the eggs externally at the same time.
As the eggs hatch, larvae emerge with whisker-like structures near their mouths and underdeveloped pectoral fins. With time, they gradually lose these whisker-like structures, and their pectoral fins become enlarged and wing-like, transforming them into adults.
In the wild, flying fish are preyed upon by other fish, like mackerel, tuna, swordfish, and marlin, among others. Some marine mammals, like porpoises and some dolphins, also feed on them.
When in the air, these fish are attacked by avian predators, such as frigatebirds.
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