How do Flying Fish Fly?
How do Flying Fish fly?
Contrary to popular belief, flying fish don't technically fly, but they can glide through the air, using winglike fins and a powerful tail. When pursued e by a predator, a flying fish heads straight for the water's surface at a rapid speed, with its fins tucked in close to its body. As it breaks the surface of the water, it spreads its "wings" and uses its flapping tail, still underwater, to give it an extra boost. Flying fish don't 'fly' very high-usually just a few feet above the water-but they can glide for fairly long distances. As it reaches the water after a glide, a flying fish can use its tail to propel it up again for another run, like a skipping rock that makes several bounces. A single glide can take a flying fish as far as 180 metres, and the total distance traveled over a series of consecutive glides can be as far as 400 meters. Flying fish are thought to have evolved this remarkable gliding ability to escape predators, of which they have many. Their pursuers include mackerel, tuna, swordfish, marlin, and other larger fish. For their sustenance, flying fish is an omnivore and feeds on a variety of foods, including plankton. Flying fish grow up to 45 cm long are found in warm waters all over the world, with over forty different variations. Species Beyond their useful pectoral fins, all have unevenly forked tails, with the lower lobe longer than the upper lobe. Many species have enlarged pelvic fins as well and are known as four-winged flyin fish. At one time, it was thought that a flying fish actually flew by flapping its fins as a bird does its wings, but it is now known that the fins are held rigid and not flapped. Thus flying fish do not actually fly like birds, but they sail, or glide, like gliders. Flying fish can soar high enough that sailors often find them on the decks of their ships.
Contrary to popular belief, flying fish don't technically fly, but they can glide through the air, using winglike fins and a powerful tail. When pursued e by a predator, a flying fish heads straight for the water's surface at a rapid speed, with its fins tucked in close to its body. As it breaks the surface of the water, it spreads its "wings" and uses its flapping tail, still underwater, to give it an extra boost. Flying fish don't 'fly' very high-usually just a few feet above the water-but they can glide for fairly long distances. As it reaches the water after a glide, a flying fish can use its tail to propel it up again for another run, like a skipping rock that makes several bounces. A single glide can take a flying fish as far as 180 metres, and the total distance traveled over a series of consecutive glides can be as far as 400 meters. Flying fish are thought to have evolved this remarkable gliding ability to escape predators, of which they have many. Their pursuers include mackerel, tuna, swordfish, marlin, and other larger fish. For their sustenance, flying fish is an omnivore and feeds on a variety of foods, including plankton. Flying fish grow up to 45 cm long are found in warm waters all over the world, with over forty different variations. Species Beyond their useful pectoral fins, all have unevenly forked tails, with the lower lobe longer than the upper lobe. Many species have enlarged pelvic fins as well and are known as four-winged flyin fish. At one time, it was thought that a flying fish actually flew by flapping its fins as a bird does its wings, but it is now known that the fins are held rigid and not flapped. Thus flying fish do not actually fly like birds, but they sail, or glide, like gliders. Flying fish can soar high enough that sailors often find them on the decks of their ships.