Flying Fish - Types and Characteristics

Author: Peter Berry
Date Of Creation: 15 February 2021
Update Date: 28 June 2024
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The so-called flying fish make up the family Exocoetidae, within the order Beloniformes. There are about 70 species of flying fish, and although they can't fly like a bird, they are able to glide over long distances.

These animals are believed to have developed the ability to get out of the water to escape faster aquatic predators such as dolphins, tuna, dorado or marlin. They are present in practically all seas in the world, especially in tropical and subtropical areas.

Have you ever wondered if there are even flying fish? Well, in this PeritoAnimal article we will answer this question and we will tell you about the types of flying fish that exist and their characteristics. Good reading.


Characteristics of flying fish

Fish with wings? The Exocoetidae family is made up of amazing marine fish that can have 2 or 4 "wings" depending on the species, but in reality they are highly developed pectoral fins adapted to glide over water.

Main characteristics of flying fish:

  • Size: most species measure about 30 cm, the largest being the species Cheilopogon pinnatibarbatus californicus, 45 cm long.
  • wings: 2 "winged" flying fish have 2 enormously developed pectoral fins as well as strong pectoral muscles, while 4 "winged" fish have 2 accessory fins that are nothing less than an evolution of the pelvic fins.
  • Speed: Thanks to its strong musculature and well-developed fins, the flying fish can be propelled through the water with relative ease. speeds of about 56 km/h, being able to move 200 meters on average at a height of 1 to 1.5 meters above the water.
  • fins: In addition to the two or four fins that look like wings, the tail fin of the flying fish is also highly developed and is fundamental to its movement.
  • young flying fish: in the case of puppies and young people, they have dewlaps, structures present in bird feathers, which disappear in adults.
  • light attraction: they are attracted by light, which has been used by fishermen to attract them to boats.
  • Habitat: inhabit surface waters of almost all seas in the world, generally in tropical and subtropical warm water areas with a large amount of plankton, which is its main food, along with small crustaceans.

All of these characteristics of flying fish, along with their highly aerodynamic shape, allow these fish to propel themselves outward and use the air as an additional place to move, allowing them to escape potential predators.


Types of two-winged flying fish

Among the two-winged flying fish, the following species stand out:

Common flying fish or tropical flying fish (Exocoetus volitans)

This species is distributed in tropical and subtropical areas of all oceans, including the Mediterranean Sea and the Caribbean Sea. Its coloration is dark and varies from silvery blue to black, with a lighter ventral area. It measures approximately 25 cm and has the ability to fly distances of tens of meters.

flying arrow fish (Exocoetus obtusirostris)

Also called Atlantic flying fish, this species is distributed in the Pacific Ocean, from Australia to Peru, in the Atlantic Ocean and in the Mediterranean Sea. Its body is cylindrical and elongated, gray in color and measuring approximately 25 cm. Its pectoral fins are very well developed and it also has two pelvic fins on its underside, so it is considered to have only two wings.


flying fish fodiator acutus

This species of flying fish is found in areas of the Northeast Pacific and East Atlantic, where it is endemic. It is a small fish in size, about 15 cm, and it is also one of the fish that performs the shortest flying distance. It has an elongated snout and a protruding mouth, meaning both the mandible and maxilla are outward. Its body is iridescent blue and its pectoral fins are almost silvery.

Flying fish Parexocoetus brachypterus

This winged fish species has a wide distribution from the Indian Ocean to the Atlantic, including the Red Sea, and is very common in the Caribbean Sea. All species in the genus have a greater capacity for head mobility, as well as the ability to project the mouth forward. This flying fish reproduces sexually, but fertilization is external. During reproduction, males and females can release sperm and eggs while gliding. After this process, the eggs can stay on the surface of the water until the hatchlings, as well as sink in the water.

Cute flying fish (Cypselurus callopterus)

This fish is distributed east of the Pacific Ocean, from Mexico to Ecuador. With an elongated and cylindrical body of almost 30 cm, the species has highly developed pectoral fins, which are also very striking for having black spots. The rest of his body is silvery blue.

In addition to the fish that fly, you may be interested in this other article by PeritoAnimal about the rarest fish in the world.

Types of 4-winged flying fish

And now we move on to the more familiar types of four-winged flying fish:

Sharp-headed flying fish (Cypselurus angusticeps)

They inhabit the entire tropical and subtropical Pacific of East Africa. They are characterized by a narrow, pointed head and fly great distances before returning to the water. Light gray in color, its body is about 24 cm long and its pectoral fins are well developed, with the appearance of real wings.

White flying fish (Cheilopogon cyanopterus)

This species of flying fish is present in almost the entire Atlantic Ocean. It is over 40 cm long and has a long "chin". It feeds on plankton and other smaller species of fish, which it consumes thanks to the small conical teeth it has in its jaw.

In this other PeritoAnimal article we explain to you if fish sleeps.

Flying fish Cheilopogon exsiliens

Present in the Atlantic Ocean, from the United States to Brazil, always in tropical waters, possibly also in the Mediterranean Sea. It has very well developed pectoral and pelvic fins, so this winged fish is an excellent glider. Its body is elongated and reaches about 30 cm. In turn, its color can be bluish or with greenish tones and its pectoral fins are characterized by the presence of large black spots on the upper part.

Black-winged flying fish (Hirundichthys rondeletii)

A species that is distributed in tropical and subtropical waters of almost all oceans in the world and is an inhabitant of surface waters. Also elongated in the body, like the other species of flying fish, it is about 20 cm long and has a fluorescent blue or silver color, which allows them to camouflage themselves with the sky when they venture outdoors. It is one of the few species in the Exocoetidae family that are not important for commercial fishing.

You may also be interested in this other article about fish that breathe out of water.

Flying fish Parexocoetus hillianus

Present in the Pacific Ocean, in warm waters from the Gulf of California to Ecuador, this winged fish species is slightly smaller, approximately 16 cm, and, like the other species, its coloration varies from blue or silver to shades of iridescent green, although the ventral part becomes almost white.

Now that you have learned all about flying fish, with its characteristics, photos and many examples, check out the video about the rarest marine animals in the world:

If you want to read more articles similar to Flying Fish - Types and Characteristics, we recommend that you enter our Curiosities section of the animal world.