* Powerful Tails: Their tails are exceptionally strong and they use them to propel themselves out of the water. They whip their tails back and forth, creating a powerful thrust.
* Large Pectoral Fins: They have large, wing-like pectoral fins that they spread out once airborne. These fins act like wings, providing lift and allowing them to glide.
* Air-filled Sacs: Some species have air-filled sacs underneath their skin, which can be inflated to help them stay aloft longer.
* Efficient Design: Their bodies are streamlined and their fins are designed to reduce drag, maximizing their gliding distance.
* Short Flights: While they can glide for impressive distances (up to 200 meters!), these flights are generally short and punctuated by periods of swimming.
Why do they glide?
* Escape Predators: Gliding helps them escape predators like tuna, marlin, and dolphins.
* Travel Faster: They can cover greater distances more quickly than by swimming alone.
* Find New Feeding Grounds: They may use gliding to reach new areas with more food.
It's important to remember that flying fish don't have the same kind of sustained flight that birds do. They're more like skilled gliders, using their powerful tails and large pectoral fins to make temporary jumps out of the water and glide for impressive distances.