{"id":9124,"date":"2024-04-22T08:30:00","date_gmt":"2024-04-22T07:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/neuronicdev.es\/deep-sea-world\/blog\/can-fish-fly-5-interesting-facts-about-the-flying-fish\/"},"modified":"2025-09-23T10:56:19","modified_gmt":"2025-09-23T10:56:19","slug":"can-fish-fly-5-interesting-facts-about-the-flying-fish","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/neuronicdev.es\/deep-sea-world\/blog\/can-fish-fly-5-interesting-facts-about-the-flying-fish\/","title":{"rendered":"Can Fish Fly? 5 Interesting Facts about the Flying Fish"},"content":{"rendered":"

The world of aquatic animals is a fascinating one, with so many different species that you\u2019ve likely never even heard of or seen! With that in mind, one such species is the flying fish \u2013 but why is it called that, and can it really fly? In our latest blog, we take a look at this interesting creature that lives beneath the water\u2019s surface.<\/p>\n

What is a flying fish?<\/h2>\n

Belonging to the family Exocoetidae<\/em>, the flying fish is a type of ray-finned fish. There are at least 40 species of flying fish, characterised by an incredibly unique feature relating to its fins. They are also sometimes known as flying cod.<\/p>\n

Can fish fly?<\/h2>\n

The truth is, no fish can really fly in the traditional sense, but the flying fish gets pretty close. They have evolved to have the ability to jump out of the water, before gliding over the water. Flying fish will swim incredibly fast, over 30mph, before breaking the surface of the water and beating its tail. Once in the air, flying fish can glide nearly 200m and sometimes as high as 1m above the water.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s believed that they evolved to do this, in order to escape predators effectively. Some of their most well-known predators include tuna, swordfish and other bigger fish.<\/p>\n

What does a flying fish look like?<\/h2>\n

A flying fish looks a little like a sardine, with a long body with blue-silver scales. It also has a forked tail, but this isn\u2019t the most fascinating feature. Its pectoral fins, which are located near its head, are large and wing-shaped. It\u2019s these fins that help the flying fish to glide. Some species of flying fish will have a second pair of fins that are similarly shaped.<\/p>\n

Flying fish can grow to around 45cm in length, and typically weigh no more than 900g.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n
<\/div>\n

Flying fish habitat<\/h2>\n

You\u2019ll most likely find flying fish in tropical and subtropical water, which means they typically live in the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian oceans. They are more common in the open water, but some will prefer coral reefs, making them neighbours of clownfish<\/a> and elongated surgeonfish<\/a>.<\/p>\n

What do flying fish eat?<\/h2>\n

Flying fish are omnivores, which means they\u2019ll eat pretty much anything! However, most of their diet usually includes tiny plankton, although they have been known to dine on smaller crustaceans too.<\/p>\n

Fun facts about flying fish<\/h2>\n

These fish are incredibly intriguing, and there\u2019s even more to learn!<\/p>\n