flying fish

n. Any of various marine fishes of the family Exocoetidae, having enlarged, winglike pectoral fins capable of sustaining them in brief, gliding flight over the water.

flying fish

n (Animals) any marine teleost fish of the family Exocoetidae, common in warm and tropical seas, having enlarged winglike pectoral fins used for gliding above the surface of the water

fly′ing fish`

n. any of several warm-water marine fishes of the family Exocoetidae, noted for winglike fins that enable it to glide for some distance after leaping from the water. [1505–15]

Thesaurus

Noun

flying fish - tropical marine fishes having enlarged winglike fins used for brief gliding flightteleost, teleost fish, teleostan - a bony fish of the subclass TeleosteiExocoetidae, family Exocoetidae - flying fishes; closely related to the halfbeaksmonoplane flying fish, two-wing flying fish - having only pectoral fins enlargedbiplane flying fish, four-wing flying fish - having both pectoral and pelvic fins enlarged

Translations

pesce volante

flying fish

flying fish,

common name for members of the Exocoetidae, a family of carnivorous or herbivorous fish of warmer seas. Flying fishes usually swim in schools. They average 7 to 12 in. (17.5–30 cm) in length and have pectoral fins that compare in size with the wings of birds; in some species the pelvic fins also are enlarged. Of the latter type, best known in Atlantic waters are the four-winged flying fish and the bearded flying fish, named for the long barbels around the mouths of the young. The young of many species of flying fishes resemble blossoms of plants in the genus Barringtonia and are thus protected from predators. The California flying fish (Cheilopogon pinnatibarbatus californicus), the largest (up to 18 in./45 cm) of the family, is common in the Pacific; the blackwing flying fish is found in both oceans. Flying fishes are excellent food; their aerial talents help them to avoid the tuna, mackerel, and dolphins that prey on them.

Flying fishes generally do not actually fly, but glide on their outstretched fins for distances of up to 1-4 mi (0.4 km). Their velocity (up to 30 mi/48 km per hour) builds as they approach the water's surface until they launch themselves into the air, vibrating their specially adapted tail fins in order to taxi along the surface. The flying gurnard of the South Atlantic, an unrelated member of the Dactylopteridae family, has enormous pectorals and makes short leaps clear of the water. A 3-in. (7.5 cm) characincharacin
or characid
, common name for members of the Characidae, a large and diverse family comprising 700 species of freshwater fishes. The characins are related to the carp and the catfish. They are found in Africa and in tropical America, especially in the Amazon.
..... Click the link for more information. (family Characidae) of the Amazon basin actually flies short distances by buzzing its winglike fins.

True flying fishes are classified in the phylum ChordataChordata
, phylum of animals having a notochord, or dorsal stiffening rod, as the chief internal skeletal support at some stage of their development. Most chordates are vertebrates (animals with backbones), but the phylum also includes some small marine invertebrate animals.
..... Click the link for more information. , subphylum Vertebrata, class Actinopterygii, order Beloniformes, family Exocoetidae.

flying fish

[¦flī·iŋ ¦fish] (vertebrate zoology) Any of about 65 species of marine fishes which form the family Exocoetidae in the order Atheriniformes; characteristic enlarged pectoral fins are used for gliding.

Flying Fish

[¦flī·iŋ ¦fish] (astronomy) Volan

flying fish

any marine teleost fish of the family Exocoetidae, common in warm and tropical seas, having enlarged winglike pectoral fins used for gliding above the surface of the water

flying fish

flying fish

flying fish

fly′ing fish`

flying fish

flying fish

flying fish

flying fish,

flying fish

Flying Fish

flying fish

flying fish

flying fish

flying fish

Words related to flying fish

noun tropical marine fishes having enlarged winglike fins used for brief gliding flight

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