Flying fish with amazing skills to escape sea predators

#flyingfish #seamonster #fishevolution

Flying fish is one of the most interesting fish that can be seen jumping out of the sea. They live in all of the oceans, particularly in tropical and warm subtropical waters. There are about 64 species of flying fish around the world and commonly found in the top layer of the ocean to a depth of about 200 meters.

The flying fish actually don't have the ability to fly like a birds, but they jumped up and glide through the air for short distances. They have pectoral fins that have similar function to the birds wings. Some species of flying fish have 4 wings. These four winged flying fish have large pectoral fins as well as large pelvic fins. When flying fish are in danger, they speed up under the water by wagging their tails and keeping their fins close to the body.

Then they spread their wings and leap into the air, gliding for around 45 seconds. Once in the air, their rigid "wings" can make them glide up to 200 meters. At the end of a glide, they fold their pectoral fins to re-enter the sea, or drop their tails into the water to push against the water to lift for another glide, possibly changing direction. The main reason for this behavior is believed to be escape from predators.

Flying fish can be up to 18 inches long, but average 7 to 12 inches. They eat a variety of foods, but plankton make up a large portion of their diet, and sometimes small crustaceans. Although flying fish gliding ability helps them to escape from sea predators like tuna, mackerel and swordfish, but they become the target of sea birds once they are in the air.

The flying fish are attracted to light, like a number of sea creatures, and fishermen take advantage of this with substantial results. They are commercially fished in Japan, Vietnam, and China by gillnetting, and in Indonesia and India by dipnetting. Often in Japanese cuisine, the fish is preserved by drying to be used as fish stock for dashi broth. There is currently no protection status on these animals.

[drjosephfarah]

45 seconds is the absolute maximum longest ever recorded flight of a flying fish, not the usual time. Their hang time is normally much shorter. Great video!

[bikizuzu]

45 seconds hang time isn't bad! Wow, what I wouldn't give to soar like that!

[borissibor]

The other fish must be insanely jealous

[corkcamden]

When I was in the Navy, I used to sit down in the well deck aboard ship which is much closer to the water than the other decks. I was on a fleet oiler steaming down around the Philippines and the flying fish were very all over the place. I could spend hours off-watch playing guitar and watching the flying fish cruising a couple feet, if that, above the surface. They were like my little buds whenever I got a chance to sit down there. You know, it's one of those memories I flash back on from time to time, thinking about how lucky I was to have those experience which are relatively rare in life. Yeah, the Navy took me places I could never afford; some I didn't really want to "visit" but all gave me a memory, borh good and bad which I look back on. To me, they are priceless. I know this sounds like a recruitment ad, but if you are a young person not sure of what direction you want to go, the service is a fine place to figure that out. If you go in right after high school ot thereabouts, you could spend 20 years, get out with a nice little paycheck every month for the rest of your life and you'd be only like 40, and you can embark on another career, all the while collecting a monthly check. It's something to think about. Like I say, I sound like a recruiter, but it is an option for you to think about. Thanks for hearing me out everybody. I never regretted those Navy years and it gave me memories, mostly good ones and a bunch of benefits- the most valuable one to me is the sense of self respect. Okay...this old big mouth is over and out. Best wishes and good health from the Blue Ridge! Va. Cork

[curiousnerdkitteh]

Flying AND breathing/diving underwater. They're living EVERYONE'S best life.

[mr.bojangles]

I hope these beautiful animals get the protection they deserve soon

[Crusade]

Does this mean that these are gonna evolve to breathe air and fly?

[jaymills]

Taking “falling with style” to a new level

[andriesscheper]

They are quite tasty when fried. Much like herring.

[kamikaze_kev]

I think these creatures should be protected. it breaks my heart that they escape the underwater predators only to be consumed by a sea gull! these guys need our help

[gemarkdionisio]

I don't know about you, but I just randomly searched 'flying fish'..

[peacefulscrimp]

That was a great video 👍
I could have stood for it to have been at least ten more minutes. You should do another one.

[raza]

Wow really very cute fishes looking so beautiful 😍😍

[harrypersey]

I love how he spoke about predators like tuna and etc, yet the only other fish there was a mahi-mahi 😂

[danamarvelstar]

The skimwing from Way of Water brought me here.

[BenThomas-zm]

i need flying animals that can walk normally like animals that walk like a flying dog

[cyganmarek]

This is sad that the fish is escaping literally from sea, air but than ending up on human dinner :(

[manuelzulu]

Imagine running away out of the water from another fish then get caught by a bird

[BekzatSood]

These guys skipped the leg day and went straight to winga

[KanonHara]

the music and tone of voice is like he's talking about a murder mystery