A battle of blacks in a cave in the dead of night. Battle of blacks in a deep cave on a dark night
Description
Flying fish (from Latin Exocoetidae) is a family of fish that includes about 70 species, distinctive feature which are huge pectoral fins, with the help of which they jump out of the water and can make a short soaring flight. Distributed in all oceans largest cluster- in the subtropics and tropics with a water temperature of at least 20°C. There are about 40 species in the Indo-West Pacific region, 16 species in the Atlantic Ocean, and 20 species in the eastern Pacific Ocean. In summer, many species migrate north as far as the southern coasts of Denmark and Norway, swimming into the English Channel. Many flying fish live off the coast of Barbados in the Caribbean Sea, where this fish is considered national symbol, and the country itself has the unofficial name “land of the flying fish.” The fish have short jaws and pectoral fins commensurate with the length of the body. The color is usually gray-blue with a darker back and fins of various colors: blue, green, brown, transparent. The sizes of individuals vary from 15 to 50 cm.
In moments of danger, and sometimes for no apparent reason, the fish, using strong blows with its tail (up to 70 times per second), instantly jumps out of the water and soars through the air with the help of its wide pectoral fins. The evolution of flying fish occurred in two directions. As a result, some fish species use only their pectoral fins to fly, while others use their pectoral and ventral fins. The structure of the tail also reflects the ability to fly: the rays of the caudal fin are rigidly linked to each other and the lower blade is much larger than the upper one. Species with a short pectoral fin have a shorter flight range compared to species with long fins. Flying fish can change the angle of their fins to control their flight direction. They take off at an angle of 35-45 degrees relative to the surface of the water and glide in the air, gradually descending towards the water again. Typically, the soaring flight range is 50 meters, but there are known cases when the range increased to 400 meters due to the use of air currents over water by fish. The flying fish accelerates to 60 km/h and hovers above the water at a height of about one meter. It is not able to control its flight, so there are cases when a flying fish crashes into the side of the ship or falls onto the deck.
Flying fish gather in small schools. Some species live only in the coastal zone, some only in the open ocean. And there are also species that can live in the open ocean and return to the coast during the spawning season. They lay red-orange eggs, attaching them to algae or the fruits of land plants that have fallen into the water, coconuts, bird feathers and other floating debris. They feed on small crustaceans, plankton, fish larvae, and pteropods. At the same time, they themselves serve as a food base for some predatory fish, squid, and seabirds. At night, flying fish are attracted to bright light, which is what they use local residents to catch them. A fisherman places a boat filled with water in the sea at night and lights a lamp on it. It turns out to be a trap for fish that “fly” into the light and are unable to get out of the boat back, since they do not have enough space to gain the speed necessary to jump.
Flying fish have tasty meat, so in a number of countries, for example, India, Japan, Polynesia, they are the subject of industrial fishing. This fish is of greatest commercial importance in Japan, where its fishing accounts for almost half of the total world catch.
In addition to meat, the Japanese eat the caviar of this fish, known as “tobiko” and used to prepare sushi, rolls and other national dishes. Japanese cuisine. Caviar does not have a distinct color, so it is dyed with various natural dyes, as a result of which it can acquire bright green, purple, and bright orange colors.
Composition and beneficial features flying fish
Flying fish meat is very tasty and tender, it contains up to 30% proteins that are easily digestible by the body, and is rich in fats. Phosphorus needed for correct formation musculoskeletal system, and potassium, which is responsible for muscle contraction and the work of the heart muscle, is contained in the meat and caviar of flying fish in large quantities. When eating this fish, a person receives a lot of vitamins: vitamin A, which affects the condition of the skin and visual acuity, increases the body’s resistance to diseases, vitamin D, necessary for the complete absorption of calcium and phosphorus in the body, vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant. Fish also contains a whole range of B vitamins.
Flying fish caviar is considered a high-calorie and energetically valuable product, therefore it is consumed during large periods. physical activity, useful as a general tonic for exhaustion and anemia. Recommended for use by pregnant women and the elderly (in small quantities).
Contraindications
Individual intolerance to any seafood or allergic reactions to fish.
Flying fish ( Exocoetidae) is a family of fish from the order Garfish, consisting of approximately 60 species grouped into 7 (according to some sources 9) genera. The main difference between these fish is their unusual pectoral fins. big size, which allow you to glide over water for a short time.
Description
These are small fish with a maximum body length of about 45 cm, but most individuals are between 17 and 30 cm long. They have wing-shaped and rigid pectoral fins. Another one interesting characteristic flying fish - its unevenly forked tail, the upper part of which is shorter than the lower part. Some species, such as the Diptera flying fish ( Exocoetus volitans) have two wings, which are enlarged pectoral fins. Others, such as longwings ( Cheilopogon), have four wings (enlarged both pectoral and dorsal fins).
Spreading
Flying fish are common in waters, mainly in the areas of the Pacific, Atlantic and Indian oceans. The preferred water temperature should be close to 20° C. Open waters provide for most flying fish, but some of them live on the outskirts.
Flight
Flying fish are able to jump out of the water, wagging their tail from side to side about 70 times per second. They increase speed under water, and their fins are pressed tightly against their streamlined body. When they are freed from the resistance of the water, the gliding speed in the air can be about 60 km per hour. Flight length usually varies between 30-50 m, but in some cases the fish glide up to 200 meters and have greater maneuverability. They can glide in series, diving into the water to gain speed and push themselves out again.
Flight is primarily a way for flying fish to escape from predators including dolphins, tuna, marlin, and pelagic seabirds. These fish are able to reach high enough to jump onto the decks of ships.
Nutrition
Flying fish mainly eat small fish, pteropods and fry.
Reproduction and lifespan
Spawning of flying fish occurs in the open ocean, near the surface of the water. Females lay eggs, which are attached by sticky threads to algae and floating debris. Only hatched cubs have whiskers near their mouths, which disguise them as plants, protecting them from. Some species spend their lives in coastal areas or return there to breed. Flying fish live on average about five years.
Storage and use
The tropical two-winged flying fish (lat. Exocoetus volitans) is capable of flying over a distance of half a kilometer, skillfully using the power of air currents in its flight. It belongs to the family of Flying fish (Exocoetidae) from the order Beloniformes.
Her unusual abilities developed due to the presence of large pectoral fins, which became an analogue of bird wings.
The meat of flying fish has a delicate taste, so in some regions they are actively fished. Polynesians catch them at night, attracting them with light.
If you put a boat filled with water in the sea and light a lamp on it, you will get an excellent trap for a flying fish that has flown into the light. Once inside, she cannot jump out without gaining speed. More than 50% of the catch comes from Japanese residents.
Flying fish belongs to the inhabitants of subtropical and tropical ocean waters with high salinity. In its habitat, the water temperature should be at least 20°C.
It lives in near-surface layers, not going to a depth of more than 20 m.
Reproduction
Spawning occurs in the open sea. The eggs float freely on its surface. They are prevented from sinking by protruding fibers with which they can attach to floating objects.
The embryos develop very quickly. Almost immediately after hatching, larvae appear and float on the water surface. Initially, their food is the contents of the yolk sac.
Bright fry with small fins do not resemble adults in any way. Some species of flying fish from the Atlantic go to the Mediterranean Sea to spawn. Having reached a length of 5 cm, the young begin to master the art of jumping over the surface of the water for the first time. Sexual maturity occurs at the age of 15 months.
Behavior
The flying fish is a natural traveler. Having a friendly character, it does not gather in large schools, but forms small flocks and goes in search of plankton. She finds her food on the surface of the sea, happily eating larvae, crustaceans and floating eggs.
The fish gets the food it needs by sucking liquid into its mouth and passing it through the gill slits, where the microscopic prey remains.
To fly, it accelerates under water, then, having surfaced a little, increases its speed due to the intensive work of its tail. If a ship blocks her path, she jumps against the wind and rises to a height of more than 10 m. In one jump, she can push off from the surface of the water several times.
The direction of flight is determined by the wind flow; the flying fish itself is not able to choose the direction of movement. There were cases when she crashed into the side of the ship.
The main natural enemies are dolphins and tuna. A school of tuna quietly swims up to a small group of fish, and then suddenly penetrates the school and disperses them. Hunters begin to pursue individual individuals and overtake them, preventing them from taking off.
Dolphins use different tactics. Swimming in the upper layers, they watch the landing fish and grab them. During the flight, they may be attacked by gannets or albatrosses.
Representatives of this species in flight do not wave their fins, but, spreading them widely, glide. The angle of entry into the water, the direction of flight and its duration largely depend on the strength of the wind. They are capable of jumping at speeds of up to 60 km/h.
Description
The body length reaches 30 cm, and the weight is 0.5 kg. At the top of the miniature head are large eyes with light irises. The mouth is lined with well-defined lips, and the lower jaw protrudes slightly forward.
The entire body is covered with large round scales. Top part body is painted in dark blue color, and the bottom one is lighter.
Small, highly located ventral fins open up like fans in the air. The pectoral fins are greatly elongated and have a large span. The small dorsal fin is strongly set back. The upper part of the caudal fin is smaller than the lower part.
Someone born to crawl cannot fly, but someone born to swim can do it! Flying fish Exocoetidae are a mystery of nature, in which there is nothing mysterious, given evolution and the fact that at the dawn of civilization we all came out of the world's oceans.
Flying fish are found in the warmest sea and ocean waters; there are 40 species of them, and in Barbados they are a national character. Japan, Vietnam and China, for which nothing is sacred in the fish world (however, this fish is not protected by ecologists), consider Exocoetidae commercial, and for pirates Caribbean Sea they are a coveted delicacy.
How does a flying fish fly? Before takeoff, it quickly moves its tail 70 times before dashing to the surface. The body shape is similar to the fuselage of an airplane or, as it is otherwise called, torpedo-shaped to ensure streamlining and reduce air resistance. The aerodynamic properties of the fins-wings located on the ribs are also akin to the wing of an airplane and, in fact, the wing of a bird. The fish directs them slightly upward to provide lift, while being able to catch upward air currents and thus fly 150, or even 300 meters. There are also flying fish equipped with two additional fins in the lower part of the body - for these individuals it costs nothing to fly 400 meters. At the end of the flight, the pectoral fins fold and the fish falls back into the water - or it can simply push off the surface with its tail and change direction.
What does it eat? Plankton and other small organisms.
Who is he afraid of? Flying fish are hunted by marlin, tuna, swordfish, mackerel and other large predators. There are also very dexterous birds with the offensive name of gannets, which have adapted to lie in wait for the moment when the flyers have to fly up from under the bow of a ship cutting a wave. However, Exocoetidae can quite deftly flee from all these hunters. But hiding or hiding from a person turns out to be more difficult. Fishermen specially go out to sea at night in boats illuminated by a lantern, because flying fish, like moths, fly towards the light - and as a result fall straight into the boat.
Flying fish Exocoetidae on video:
