Flying Fish

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.

5 Incredible Facts

• While the vast majority of these fish have two “wings,” some species have up to four. Both their pelvic and pectoral fins are shaped into wings.
• For some unknown reason, these fish appear to be attracted to sources of light. Fishers will use this knowledge to catch enormous numbers of flying fish at once.
• The fish swim toward the surface of the water at a rate of 3 feet per second. To launch themselves into flight, they beat their tails rapidly about 70 times a second and hold their fins close to their bodies. Upon breaking the surface of the water, they extend their wings and start to glide.
• Some of these fish migrate hundreds of miles throughout the year, depending on the availability of food. However, climate change may be altering their usual migratory routes.
• According to the fossil record, the modern flying fish evolved some 66 million years ago. But a separate group of flying fish, now extinct, may have first evolved more than 200 million years ago.

Classification and Scientific Name

The scientific name for the family of ray-finned, flying fish is Exocoetidae. This is a combination of two Latin words that roughly translate to “sleeping outside.” The name is based on a misconception from early sailors that these fish returned to the shore at night to sleep. These fish belong to the order of Beloniformes, along with needlefish and ricefish.

Species

The family of flying fish is composed of approximately 40 species spread out across 7 or so genera. Here’s a list of just a few of them. In addition, pictures of the Yellow-wind and the Gurnard flying fish appear below.

• Blue Flying Fish (Exocoetus volitans): Also known as the tropical two-wing flying fish, this species is found throughout much of the tropical waters of the Atlantic and Pacific. The upper half of the body is an iridescent blue, and the stomach is a silvery-white color.
• Black Wing Flying Fish (Hirundichthys rondeletii): This species is also found throughout most of the tropical Atlantic and Pacific. It is distinguished by the dark blue, almost purple upper half, which complements the white lower half.
• Four-wing Flying Fish (Hirundichthys affinis): As the name suggests, this species has four “wings” instead of two. Commercial rights for this species of fish are important enough to have caused a dispute at one time between the Caribbean countries of Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago.

Appearance

The flying fish looks a bit like a sardine (though not really like a cod). It has a long, torpedo-shaped body, blue or silvery scales, and a vertically forked tail. By far the most prominent features are the wing-shaped pectoral fins located near the head, which enable them to glide through the air. Some species also have a second set of “wings” that are really just modified pelvic fins. The medium-sized fish can measure anywhere between 6 and 20 inches in length, but never exceeds 2 pounds in size.

Distribution, Population, and Habitat

These fish are found throughout the world’s three major oceans (the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian), up to a depth of around 650 feet. Most species tend to concentrate in tropical and subtropical waters. They are very rare up north because colder temperatures appear to impede the muscular function necessary to glide through the air.

The flying fish is so common around the Caribbean that it is actually the national symbol of Barbados. Although it is sometimes popular in the commercial fishing industry, population numbers appear to be quite high and stable. Almost all species are classified by the IUCN Red List as of least concern. Very few are endangered.

Predators and Prey

The flying fish are an integral part of the food chain in many tropical marine environments around the world. They acquire nutrients from smaller prey and provide nutrients to larger predators farther up the food chain. These fish are preyed upon by marlin, tuna, squid, porpoises, birds, and humans. They themselves are omnivores, so although the bulk of their diet consists of plankton, they also sometimes consume small crustaceans and fish.

Reproduction and Lifespan

These fish will congregate by the millions each year for the spawning season. This occurs near the surface of the open ocean. The female will release hundreds of eggs into the water for the male to fertilize (these eggs can be eaten by people as edible roe). She will then attach her fertilized eggs via a sticky filament to a piece of seaweed or floating debris.

After a few days, the fish are born with whiskers near their mouths to help them blend in among the plants. From the moment of their birth, they are largely on their own, and many will end up perishing from predators. They gain the ability to fly after reaching about two inches in length. The average lifespan of these fish is approximately five years.

Fishing and Cooking

The flying fish are considered to be quite an edible meal. It is commercially caught on a large scale throughout the entire Asia Pacific region and parts of the Caribbean. The most common methods of fishing are gillnetting (vertical nets that hang from a line) or dipnetting (a large scoop held in place by a hoop).

The fish are fried, steamed, and even made into sushi. In Barbados, they are thought to go well with cou-cou, the national dish of cornmeal and okra. The roe (the eggs) is also considered a delicacy in several countries. Many people claim that the flying fish has a firm, savory taste.