In nature, there are indeed fish that can "fly", and the name is called "flying fish"!
Can flying fish really fly?
Although this fish is called "flying fish" precisely because it can "fly". But to be precise, they just glide in the air, not really fly like birds.
What does it glide with?
The reason why the flying fish can glide is related to its body structure. Originally, it had two pectoral fins as developed as the wings. The pectoral fins of flying fish are very long, reaching two-thirds of the length of the body. When the pair of pectoral fins are unfolded, like the wings of a paper airplane, they allow flying fish to glide through the air.
In addition, the flying fish also has an abdominal fin that can assist in gliding, and a tail fin that is used to grasp the direction. In fact, the flying fish relies on its tail fin to beat hard in the water, causing the seawater to produce a huge counter-thrust, in order to jump out of the water like an arrow. When a flying fish glides in the air for a distance, it usually enters the water first with its tail.
If it wants to take off again, it only needs to swing its tail fin with force, and it can rush out of the water before the body is in the water and continue to glide. So repeatedly, flying fish can fly far on the surface of the sea.
Why do flying fish fly?
Despite the skill of gliding, the flying fish is still a fish that breathes with its gills, and it cannot stay in the air for a long time, and eventually returns to the ocean. So why does it fly?
In fact, it is their natural enemies that force them to rush out of the sea. Carnivorous fish such as swordfish, swordfish, sharks and tuna, some of them swim fast, some of them are large, and flying fish are not their opponents at all. Therefore, in the long process of biological evolution, the flying fish has practiced its unique skill - jumping and gliding, in order to avoid the pursuit of predators.
Of course, if there is no threat of natural enemies for a long time, and the flying fish happen to be in the breeding period, some flying fish will jump out of the water and play happily.
Is it safe for flying fish to fly out of the water?
Although jumping and gliding can allow flying fish to temporarily avoid predators in the water, they are also dangerous on the surface of the sea. On the one hand, because there are also predators of flying fish in the air, after jumping out of the water, they will be caught by seabirds if they are not careful, thus becoming a plate meal. On the other hand, if the flying fish do not grasp the direction when "taking off", they may also hit the ship or reef.
So, even if flying fish can fly, survival is still not easy for them!