What is it that flies but doesn't have wings? These are our unique flying fish which are
often spotted during our whale watching trips..
In the Azores, there are two species of flying fish (Cheilopogon heterurus and Exocoetus
volitans) but they are difficult to distinguish when sighted at sea. C. heterurusis the most
frequently observed species in the Azores while E. volitans is less frequent possibly due
to its more tropical distribution.
The Cheilopogon heterurus, belonging to the Exocoetidae family, has an elongated
torpedo-shaped body with a dark coloration on the upper part of the body and lighter
on the bottom and can reach an average length of 25 cm (max. 45 cm). Their pelvic fins
are small while their pectoral fins are extremely developed and larger than normal which
allows them to glide out of the water, a characteristic that gives them the name flying
fish.
Their caudal fin has an irregular shape with the lower lobe larger than the upper lobe which serves as a propeller and allows them to create different patterns on the surface of the water. Juveniles can be distinguished from adults by their small size and by having vertical bands on the body and dark spots on the fins (Fig. 1).
Their "flights" can reach considerable distances (maximum recorded of 400 meters) with 2-3 meters of height and can reach speeds capable of accompanying a speed boat for quite some time. This flight behavior can be used as an escape mechanism from predators or when frightened by the presence of boats. However, once in the air they can become prey for seabirds (Fig. 2).
In the Azores, flying fish have a wide distribution, from pelagic zones (open sea) to neritic zones (coastal areas) and are usually sighted more frequently during the summer and early fall when the water temperature is higher. They have a diverse diet with zooplankton making up the majority of their diet and can also feed on small crustaceans. Despite their high abundance, they are fish with no commercial interest. Our whalewatching trips at Picos de Aventura are very diversified, not only is it possible to observe whales and dolphins but also other equally fascinating forms of life. Book your experience with us here.
Article written by our biologist Inês Dias.
One Comment
temp mail
Just wish to say your article is as surprising The clearness in your post is just cool and i could assume youre an expert on this subject Fine with your permission allow me to grab your RSS feed to keep updated with forthcoming post Thanks a million and please keep up the enjoyable work