Eggs
Laid in the open sea, often stuck to floating debris or algae.
Four-stage life cycle
Flying fish
A fish able to leap out of the water
Thanks to its oversized pectoral fins, the flying fish glides above the waves for more than fifty metres to escape predators.
Life cycle (4 stages)
Larva
Larvae drift at the surface and sometimes carry filaments mimicking algae.
Juvenile
The young develop their large pectoral fins and start gliding.
Adult
It lives in schools near the surface, in the open sea.
Physical changes
- Greatly enlarged pectoral fins acting as wings.
- Elongated lower lobe of the caudal fin providing thrust.
- Streamlined silver body with a bluish back.
- Size between 15 and 45 cm depending on the species.
Habitat
- Tropical and subtropical open sea
- Surface layer
- Plankton-rich current zones
Diet
- Zooplankton
- Small crustaceans
- Fish larvae
Survival adaptations
- Glides that can exceed 50 metres and last several seconds.
- Rapid tail beats at the surface to extend the flight.
- Schooling to dilute predation risk.
- Dark back and pale belly for counter-shading camouflage.
Ecological importance
- Key link between plankton and large predators
- Feeding tuna, mahi-mahi and seabirds
- Indicating the productivity of offshore waters
Importance
- Type : Pelagic bony fish (Exocoetidae family)
- Habitat shift : Floating eggs → Surface larvae → Schooling juveniles → Pelagic adults
- Role : Key prey of the offshore food chain.
- Its decline directly affects tuna, mahi-mahi and seabirds.
Did you know?
A flying fish can chain several successive glides and cover up to 400 metres without fully diving back in.