flying Fish Pictures |
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Flying Fish Photos Showing These Beautifully Patterned Fish That Fly to Escape Predators |
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Flying fish, Exocoetidae, are a family of highly decorative fish of more than 40 species, that live in all major oceans, with a preference for warm oceans. Flying fish are the national fish of Barbados, where they were abundant until over-fishing depleted their numbers. They are distinguished by their large pectoral fins which enable them to jump out of the water and glide for some distance above the surface to escape their predators. The glide is usually around 150 feet, but, if conditions are right, can be as long as a thousand feet.
Flying fish take to the air by starting with swimming at high speed underwater, helped by their streamlined torpedo shape. They then take to the air, sometimes as high as four feet above the surface, with their large pectoral fins to bear them up. Some species have enlarged pelvic fins, and these are known as four winged flying fish. They beat their tail on the surface to help them get airborne, making a distinctive zig zag pattern on the water.
Flying fish eat a variety of small foods including plankton. Their natural predators are large fish such as marlin and tuna. In addition, some birds, in particular boobies, have learned to hunt flying fish by hovering over the bow of a ship, and waiting until the flying fish take to the air to avoid the ship. They then swoop down and catch them in the air.
In addition, they are fished by man. Flying fish are attracted to light, so fishing boats carry a light at night to lure fish to drop into the boat. They are not a protected species. Despite that, often ichthyologists are not able to accurately describe a species as they normally only see them after they have been preserved and lost their amazing coloration.
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Picture of a flying fish, Hirundichthys affinis, Bahamas, Caribbean Sea, Atlantic Ocean
Picture #: 005537 |
Stock photo of flyingfish, flying fish, four winged, with distinctive black spots on its pelvic fins, probably Cypselurus sp., Australia
Picture #: 121475 |
Image of a California flying fish, Exocetus sp., California, East Pacific Ocean
Picture #: 005412 |
Photo of a California flying fish, Exocetus sp., California, East Pacific Ocean
Picture #: 005413 |
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Picture of a Flyingfish, flying fish, four winged, probably Hirundichthys sp.
Picture #: 121478 |
Stock photo of an Atlantic spotted dolphin, Stenella frontalis, catching a flying fish at night, Bahamas
Picture #: 044221 |
Image of a flying fish, taking off, Cypselurus suttoni, note surface zig zag pattern, Thailand, Indian Ocean
Picture #: 005414 |
Photo of a flying fish 7 inches, Exocoetidae, Hawaii, Pacific
Picture #: 046922 |
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Image of an adult masked booby, Sula dactylatra, hunting a flying fish, South Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Brazil
Picture #: 113240 |
Photo of an adult masked booby, Sula dactylatra, diving after a flying fish, South Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Brazil
Picture #: 113243 |
Picture of an adult masked booby, Sula dactylatra, catching a flying fish, South Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Brazil
Picture #: 113230 |
Stock photo of an adult masked booby, Sula dactylatra, flying away with his catch, a flying fish, South Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Brazil
Picture #: 113235 |
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Picture of a mirrorwing flyingfish or Cuvier's flying fish, Hirundichthys speculiger, at night Bimini, Bahamas, Western Atlantic Ocean
Picture #: 031491 |
Stock photo of an Atlantic flying fish, Cypselurus melanurus, fleeing the bow and taking flight for safety near Ascension Island in the Atlantic Ocean.
Picture #: 057214 |
Image of a flyingfish, flying fish, four winged, with brown spotted pink pectoral fins, probably Cypselurus sp., Indian Ocean
Picture #: 121476 |
Photo of a flyingfish, flying fish, probably Hirundichthys sp.
Picture #: 121480 |
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Picture of a flying fish, Pisces Volucris, Azores Islands, Portugal, North Atlantic
Picture #: 024886 |
Stock photo of a white tern, Gygis alba, chick eating flying fish , Midway Island, Hawaii, USA
Picture #: 105908 |
Image of a Flying fish, Cypselurus comatus, St. Peter and St. Paul rocks, Brazil, Atlantic
Picture #: 106160 |
Photo of a California flying fish, Cypselurus californicus, California coast, USA, Pacific
Picture #: 111178 |
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Picture of a flying fish, with distinctive bright yellow flashes on its pectoral fins, probably Cheilopogon sp., Indian Ocean
Picture #: 121477 |
Stock photo of a pair of flying fish, Cypselurus suttoni, take to the air in the Andaman Sea. Thailand.
Picture #: 061793 |
Image of juvenile butterfly-like flying fish just under the surface, Pulau Lankayan, Sulu Sea, Sabah, Borneo, Malaysia
Picture #: 085278
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Photo of Atlantic flying fish, Cypselurus melanurus, fleeing the bow and taking flight for safety near Ascension Island in the Atlantic Ocean.
Picture #: 057215 |
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