Flying fish are marine creatures found in warm ocean waters across the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian oceans. These ray-finned fish are known for their large, wing-like pectoral fins. Their unique ability to launch themselves out of the water allows them to traverse the air above the ocean’s surface.
How Flying Fish Achieve Flight
Flying fish do not engage in true powered flight, but rather perform glides. To initiate this aerial maneuver, they build speed underwater, often exceeding 35 miles per hour (56 kilometers per hour) before breaking the surface. They use their powerful, unevenly forked tails to propel themselves upwards, rapidly beating the lower lobe against the water. This provides the necessary thrust for launch.
Once airborne, these fish extend their large pectoral fins, which act like rigid wings, providing lift. Some species also possess enlarged pelvic fins, contributing to “four-winged” gliding, enhancing aerial stability. Their streamlined bodies minimize air resistance, allowing them to maintain their trajectory above the water.
The Incredible Distances They Cover
Flying fish can cover distances during their glides above the ocean. Typical glides often span around 50 meters (160 feet). However, under optimal conditions, these fish can achieve longer distances, with some recorded glides reaching up to 400 meters (1,300 feet).
Environmental factors play a role in extending these aerial journeys. Strong updrafts from waves and favorable wind speed and direction can increase their glide distance, providing additional lift and reducing drag. Flying fish can also perform successive glides, briefly touching the water with their tails to regain propulsion without fully re-entering the water, a behavior called “taxiing.” This technique allows them to extend their travel distance, aided by the “ground effect,” where flying close to the surface increases lift and reduces drag.
The Purpose Behind Their Leaps
The primary reason flying fish launch themselves into the air is to evade predators. This aerial escape allows them to escape fast-pursuing underwater hunters such as tuna, swordfish, marlin, and dolphins. By bursting out of the water, they can quickly disappear from their pursuers’ sight.
While predator evasion is the main driver, gliding also offers other advantages. Traveling through the air can be a more energy-efficient mode of transportation compared to swimming, aiding in dispersal or covering long distances. However, this airborne strategy also exposes them to different threats, as they can become prey for seabirds while out of the water.