There are a lot of unusual animals in our environment. Some species are located in the ocean, while others are found on land. It is home to thousands of different species of fish and other marine life. Some of these marine animals are as little as microscopic fish, and some can grow to the size of whales. Many rare species that are still out of human grasp can be found in the water. The flying fish is one such marine animal. Another name for them is flying cod. They have a well-known ability to fly after emerging from the water.
The Flying Fish has a remarkable ability that sets it apart from any other fish in the world: its pectoral fins are highly modified “wings” that enable it to leap out of the water and glide above the surface for up to 650 feet (and potentially twice that length with a good gust of wind). The flying fish travel together through the oceans in large schools. When they encounter a predator, the wings help them make a hasty escape. Some flying fish have been recorded performing 12 consecutive flights. This family of fish is quite abundant around the world; very few species are endangered.
Flying Fish
Among the most unusual marine life are flying fish. Fish that can fly can soar hundreds of feet into the sky. Flying’ fish occur across tropical seas and are famous for their unlikely ability to leap out of the water and whizz through the air above the waves. It leaps out of the water in the air, yet it does not flap its wings like birds. Approximately fifty different species of flying fish are known for their remarkable “wings,” which are made up of one or two pairs of broad, extended fins that they unfold to execute their aerial stunts.
These fishes can fly as well as hawks
In actuality, these fish are gliding rather than flying. Instead of flapping their wings, they accelerate through the waterline with tail beats, then take off and glide like paper aeroplanes with their wings steady. The animals can glide just as well as hawks, according to research. They can emerge from the water thanks to a special kind of fin. They are primarily located in the ocean’s depths. They can jump over 650 feet above the ocean thanks to their fins. When they come upon a predator, these fins also enable them to move swiftly through the water.
Recently, a video of the fish has been going viral on social media. The clip was uploaded on the microblogging platform X.
A flying fish’s body is coloured in shades of blue, black, white, and silver. This fish is omnivorous, with a maximum length of 51 cm and a maximum weight of 900 grammes. There are around 40 species of these fish in the ocean, and they belong to the Exocoetidae family. However, with increased human fishing, some species have been in danger of going extinct recently.
Why do they fly/glide?
Flying fish make the extra effort to flee from predators that are unable to see through the sea’s reflective surface by moving away from their natural home. Additionally, they can reverse course while in the air and land again in an unexpected place for their adversaries.
By: Gursharan Kaur