Wildlife
Flying fish actually glide rather than truly fly. They launch themselves into the air by beating the tail very fast and spreading their pectoral fins to use as wings. There are 52 different species of flying fish which are found in the Indian, Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.
Scientific name: Exocoetidae
Rank: Family
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Self-sacrificing fish
Flying fish risk all to lay their eggs in a choice spot.
Flying fish are so desperate to lay their eggs deep in the centre of a floating palm frond that many of them become stuck. Unable to escape, these dead weights sink the life raft and down they all go, to Davy Jones' locker.
Fish on the wing
The extraordinary flying fish uses its fins and tail to glide up to 100 metres.
The extraordinary flying fish uses its fins and tail to glide up to 100 metres.
The Flying fish can be found in a number of locations including: Mediterranean. Find out more about these places and what else lives there.
The following habitats are found across the Flying fish distribution range. Find out more about these environments, what it takes to live there and what else inhabits them.
Discover what these behaviours are and how different plants and animals use them.
Additional data source: Animal Diversity Web
Exocoetidae, is a family of marine fish in the order Beloniformes of class Actinopterygii. Fish of this family are known as flying fish. There are about sixty-four species grouped in seven to nine genera. Flying fish can make powerful, self-propelled leaps out of water into air, where their long, wing-like fins enable them to glide for considerable distances above the water's surface. This uncommon ability is a natural defense mechanism to evade predators.
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Predation defence
Adapted to swimming
Adapted to gliding
Egg layer
Spawning