Flyingfish
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? Flyingfishes |
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 Sailfin
flyingfish
(Parexocoetus brachypterus) |
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Genera
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Cheilopogon Cypselurus Danichthys Exocoetus Fodiator Hirundichthys Oxyporhamphus Parexocoetus Prognichthys |
The Exocoetidae or flyingfishes are a marine fish family comprising about 70 species grouped in 7 to 9 genera. Flyingfish are found in all the major oceans, mainly in warm tropical and subtropical waters. Their most striking feature is their pectoral fins, which are unusually large, and enable the fish to take short gliding flights in order to escape predators. In some species the pelvic fins are also unusually large, so the fish appears to have four wings.
To prepare for a glide, the fish swim rapidly close to the surface of the water, with their fins close to the body. As they leave the water, they spread their fins. The caudal fin is usually deeply forked, with the lower lobe longer than the upper. The fish rapidly move the lower lobe to propel themselves forward once the rest of the body has already left the water. Eventually, even the tail leaves the water and the fish are airborne. They do not flap their "wings". In gliding, flyingfish can almost double their speed, reaching speeds up to 60 km/h. The glides are usually up to 30-50 meters in length, but some have been observed soaring for hundreds of metres using the updraft on the leading edges of waves. The fish can also make a series of glides, each time dipping the tail into the water to produce forward thrust.
Most species reach a maximum length of 30 cm, though a few may be as long as 45 cm. The eyes are flatter than normal fish eyes in order to see above the surface. Flyingfish live close to the water surface and feed on plankton.
Flyingfish, often preserved by drying, are a staple of the Tao people of Orchid Island. The roe of the flyingfish ( Tobiko) is used in Japanese cuisine to make some types of sushi.
The term Exocoetidae comes from the Greek εξω-κοιτος = "lying down outside", "sleeping under the stars", and refers to the common occurrence of stranded flying fish lying in boats. The Exocet guided missile is presumably named after these fish. There are also three ships of the United States Navy named USS Flying Fish.
