Ask A Scientist© Biology Archive

 
Question:  How does the flying fish get speed to fly?
Prairie View

Answer:  The "flying fish", like most fishes, gets its power and speed from its 
tail fin (or "caudal fin"), which it moves from side to side with powerful strokes.  
These fish don't actually "fly" but rather "glide" through the air; they will swim 
very fast near the surface of the water, and if a predator is near, they will reach 
speeds of 15-20 mph and then break the surface of the water.  They briefly stay at 
the surface, using their tail to work up even more speed-beating it in the water up 
to 50 times in one second!!  They then accelerate to approximately 40 miles per hour, 
before rising into the air, gliding on their huge wing-like pectoral fins (what fish 
have instead of arms), and escaping their predators.  Since it is much easier to move 
through the air than it is through the water, (there is less resistance in air), 
the flying fish launch themselves from the water like rockets, leaving their predators 
far behind!!!
Tom F Ihde