Naked Science Forum
On the Lighter Side => New Theories => Topic started by: Spacetectonics on 12/02/2013 19:18:26
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Exocoetidae is a family of marine fish in the order Beloniformes of class Actinopterygii. Fish of this family are known as flying fish. There are about sixty-four species grouped in seven to nine genera. Flying fish can make powerful, self-propelled leaps out of water into air, where their long, wing-like fins enable gliding flight for considerable distances above the water's surface. This uncommon ability is a natural defense mechanism to evade predators.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flying_fish (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flying_fish)
Now my question is "Is Flying fish a result of random mutations ?" what could be different about them?is this the way that birds evolved ?or there is another question at the horizon?!
Enjoy exploration!! :)
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Now my question is "Is Flying fish a result of random mutations ?"
The form of every living thing is a consequence of random mutations ... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natural_selection
For the flying-fish the pressure of predation must be sufficiently high that it is a net benefit to have oversize fins, (which must be a "bit of a drag" underwater ), which better enable them to escape from predators than their predecessors who had more modest appendages.
[ flying calamari are even freakier ... http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1338220/Graham-Ekins-Japanese-squid-photos-leap-air-dodge-predators.html ]
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Fish routinely jump out of the water. However, it would seem a rather pointless method to avoid a shark or other predator if one lands within a foot or so of where one took off.
Thus, there could be strong evolutionary pressure to be able to jump further and further.
The wings just appear to be a normal pectoral fin that has become oversized (nothing grown de novo).
There are many examples in nature of convergent evolution (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Convergent_evolution), where different species evolve similar adaptations for survival.
It seems just as likely that a fish might glide or fly for short distances as a squirrel, or even a number of insects.
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Thanks ,
"Parallel evolution occurs when two independent but similar species evolve in the same direction and thus independently acquire similar characteristics"
I think understanding this need a full course in "evolutionary trends"(for me !!)
Please don't go n**s but, there are 5 trillion, 78 billion, 422 million, 335 thousand, and 48 ish fishes are in the water right now!
If this characteristic could act as natural selection key " then why the number of them are so limited?"dose that mean it didn't work out for them? !or the succeed ones are walking on the sand right now?!
Cheers
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... If this characteristic could act as natural selection key " then why the number of them are so limited?"
Each creature is adapted to its own niche ... http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/adaptations
Wing-size-fins would not be any use to a deep-sea fish it : wouldn't get to the surface in time to use them.