Flying Fish
Flying Fish
Exocoetidae
UncommonExocoetidaeHarmless
ID points
- Hugely enlarged pectoral fins that spread like a pair of wings
- Blue back and silvery belly; slender torpedo-shaped body
- Lower tail lobe clearly longer than the upper, used for take-off
Basics
- Family
- Exocoetidae
- Length
- 20–35 cm
- Depth
- 0-20 m
- Regions
- Indo-Pacific reefs · Caribbean & W. Atlantic · Open ocean
- Distribution
- Surface of tropical to subtropical open ocean worldwide
- Habitat
- Open ocean, surface waters
- Diet
- Plankton
Easily confused with
MackerelBlue-green back covered with dark wavy bars
FusilierBlue back and white belly, tail fin often tipped with black
MulletBroad flat head, a transparent fatty eyelid over the eyeFun fact
A flying fish sculls with its tail to build up speed, then spreads its pectoral fins and glides above the surface for as far as 400 metres, staying airborne for over 30 seconds to shake off a predator.
Open in the field guide - stacking filters and ID training >