FLYING FISH

National Geographic
Writer: Alexis Sittenfeld-Parkhurst
 The oldest known flying fish date back to the MIdle Triassic but more modern
flying fish only started to develop about 66 million years ago. They were first sighted
during their migration off the coast of Barbados. On the horizon silver torpedo like
animals could be seen propelling themselves out of the water to them sail gracefully
along the surface.
There are about 40 known different species of flying fish (​Exocoetidae​), which
are classified as bony fish that can grow up to about 18 inches. THey have a narrow
caudal peduncle and their caudal fin is a crescent shape. These characteristics
contribute to their torpedo-like shape. There is even a missile designed to replicate their
shape called the Exocet missile. But their defining characteristic is their wing-like
pectoral fins that help them “fly”. THis characteristic helps them escape the many
predators they have like marlin, tuna, and swordfish. But sometimes schools of flying
fish can be seen by birds resulting in a feeding frenzy of both birds and fish. Flying fish
are distributed across the oceans but prefer tropical and warm subtropical waters. They
are commonly found in the top layer of the water on the edges of reefs or the open
ocean. They are omnivores, so they eat particularly small organisms like plankton,
bacteria, and sometimes crustaceans as well as algae. To reproduce females laying
eggs with a sticky filament to attach to floating debris and plants.Hatchlings have
whiskers that help disguise them as plants to help camouflage and hide from predators.

Flying fish live for about 5 years.

 ​ o start the process of flying they travel at about 40 miles per hour
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underwater. Then as it breaks the surface its unevenly forked tail (with the lower lobe
longer than the upper lobe) beats back and forth still under water like a boat rudder.
Then it springs itself into the hair where it can get about 4 ft high but then can glide for
up to 1,312 feet in the air.
Right now there is no protection status for them but they are still threatened by
overfishing and global warming killing coral reefs. Their numbers are definitely not as
high as they once were. But there is controversy over the protection of these animals.
Islands like Barbados and Tabago use the flying fish as a symbol expressed in artwork
and architecture. Barbados is even known as the “land of the flying fish” . It is also a
delicacy in many parts of the world like in many countries in Asia. The way they are
fished is they are attracted to light as many fish are, as they fly out of the water people
catch them in nets.

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/fish/group/flying-fish/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flying_fish
https://www.nwf.org/Educational-Resources/Wildlife-Guide/Fish/Flying-Fish
http://www.loyno.edu/lucec/natural-history-writings/flying-fish-missiles-sea