F is for Flying Fish

Flying fish live in tropical and subtropical waters all over the world.  They have large, stiff pectoral fins  and they are about 45 centimeters long from head to tail.  The pectoral fins are used for gliding through the air near the water.

They swim up and break through the water surface by moving their tail 70 times per second!  Once the flying fish breaks through the water, it opens its pectoral fins and holds them slightly up to itself  in the air.  It folds its wings back to dive into back into the water.

The top speed for gliding is 16 kph.

The flying fish eats plankton which it gets from the surfac of the water.

I think the flying fish is one of the weirdest creatures that I've ever heard of and I would really love to see one!