Flying fish glide above the waves on wide fins to escape predators chasing from below.

The longer version

Speed builds just beneath the surface, then long finned wings carry the animal clear of the water entirely. Air offers far less resistance than water, so one hard burst can be stretched into many body lengths of free gliding, leaving a pursuer behind while it must stay down and turn wide.

Large eyes are adapted for seeing through air during the flight. Tail beats sometimes continue at the surface, letting another take-off follow immediately, so several skips can be strung together. Landing is simply a splash, and the cycle of thrust and glide can begin again.

Where this entry sits

Oceans and Sea Life looks at the salt water that covers most of the planet, from crashing waves and tides to the darkest deep-sea trenches. Expect notes on coral, fish, whales, sharks, jellyfish, shells, and the strange creatures that live far below the surface. The full list sits on the Oceans and Sea Life page, where every entry is listed in order.

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More From Oceans and Sea Life

Eight more entries

Sardines swim in enormous schools that twist and turn together as if one animal.

Tuna swim constantly and never fully stop, since they need water flowing over their gills.

Salmon return from the sea to the rivers where they hatched in order to spawn.

Eels migrate thousands of kilometres across the ocean to reach their spawning grounds.

Seahorses are fish that swim upright, and the male carries the eggs until they hatch.

Clownfish live among stinging anemones, protected by a mucus layer that keeps them safe.

Parrotfish graze on coral and produce fine white sand as a by-product of their feeding.

Manta rays glide through open water with wide wings, filtering tiny prey as they swim.

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