There are about 64 species of fish in the Exocoetidae family, popularly referred to as “flying fish”. These saltwater fish can be found in abundance in the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans. But can these fish really fly?
To answer quickly, no, flying fish are not technically capable of powered flight. Instead, they have an advanced ability to glide through water and maneuver over vast distances, carried only by wind and ocean currents.
Living in the epipelagic zone, or sunlight zone, these fish spend their lives in the top 200 meters of the water. Because their strong spinal column is attached to an ossified caudal fin, they have the robust and aerodynamic properties needed to propel themselves directly out of the water.
Extended neural arches strengthen the structure between the fish’s spine and skull. This increased stability allows them to keep their balance during their “flight”, increase their speed and enable them to better reach their targets when changing direction in the air.
Two large extendable fins form “wings”. While swimming, these rest against the body of the fish to make it more hydrodynamic in the water. Some species, called “four-winged flying fish,” have wing-like pelvic fins to aid maneuverability in the air.
These impressive fish can jump out of the water at high speeds, reaching speeds of up to 59 kilometers per hour. While typically gliding around 50 metres, their clever use of water currents and upstreams allows them to travel up to 400 metres. The longest flight time for these scaly gliding creatures was recorded by a film crew off the coast of Japan in 2008, and in an impressive 45-second flight, the fish glided at around 30 kilometers per hour.
Flying fish are thought to have developed this unique adaptation to protect themselves from the large fish and cetaceans they share their homes with. Unfortunately, it’s debatable how good this choice is, as life outside the ocean has added itself to the diverse menu of seabirds.
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