[neilep (OP)]

when I did the school run today my daughter told me they had a nice Christmas lunch and then asked me about why do Flying Fish Fly ?

well, I dont know !!..is it to avoid/escape predators ?..do they want to be birds ?.....I've seen the films with them jumping out and they seem to fly for quite a way.

I've come to the conclusion that it's to escape being lunch !!..am I right ?

'Men are the same as women...just inside out !'

[gsmollin]

I believe you are right, except I think supper is the correct meal. This isn't my strong area, but I do remember reading a book, "Kon Tiki", and in the morning, the cook of the day had to collect the flying fish that landed on board during the night.  While the balsa raft sailed through schools of flying fish, the crew would observe the flash of tuna and swordfish chasing the flying fish. I even remember an incident where one landed in the pot while cooking. Talk about bad luck (for the fish)!

[neilep (OP)]

quote:Originally posted by gsmollin

I even remember an incident where one landed in the pot while cooking. Talk about bad luck (for the fish)!

Incredible !!..I wonder what set of events led to them taking this extreme escape route....still...fantastic bad luck there for the fish you mentioned, unless of course it was suicidal...[]

'Men are the same as women...just inside out !'

[bezoar]

The don't really fly -- they glide, and they do it to escape predators.

[neilep (OP)]

quote:Originally posted by bezoar

The don't really fly -- they glide, and they do it to escape predators.

Sheesh !!, I suppose the famous Parachuting Fish don't throw themselves out of planes at ten thousand feet either eh ?

'Men are the same as women...just inside out !'

[bezoar]

Parachuting fish??  
Could be they're jumping to escape predators!

[Titanscape]

Whether they want to escape or just get somewhere faster flying helps. Air is thinner. They use less energy. Water is viscous. I see the point about being in the air as safer.

Titanscape

[Blunt]

"Flying" isn't much cop for getting places faster - the air is too thin for the fish to gennerate any kind of thrust, so they only glide on the momentum they generated while in the water.  If they were just trying to get somewhere, it'd be far more efficient to stay in the water where they can constantly propel themselves.  The flying behaviour is just to evade predators - fish constantly entering and leaving the water makes it incredibly difficult for the predator to identify and keep a target.

[neilep (OP)]

quote:Originally posted by Blunt

 - fish constantly entering and leaving the water makes it incredibly difficult for the predator to identify and keep a target.

Is the gliding ability contsraint to just one type of fish ?...I'm interested to know if other types of fish have evolved the same behaviour ? and as to how the very behaviour itself came about..........

As a firm believer  of empirical study I spent a few hours today chasing some  frozen fish fingers around my bath.....not one of them displayed this evading technique !!...
[]

'Men are the same as women...just inside out !'

[Broca]

First off..thank you neil for the christmas card..of sorts! :-) I live on Lake ontario...I wonder if the fish that is invading the great lakes through lake Michigan is a type of flying fish. It lands on the boats...any ideas?

[qazibasit]

well flying fish have wings thats why they fly

[neilep (OP)]

...I found this site....more like large fins, which act as wings so that they can glide http://oceanlink.island.net/oinfo/biodiversity/flyingfish/flyingfish.html

'Men are the same as women...just inside out !'

[GraMar]

quote:Originally posted by neilep

quote:Originally posted by Blunt

 - fish constantly entering and leaving the water makes it incredibly difficult for the predator to identify and keep a target.

Is the gliding ability contsraint to just one type of fish ?...I'm interested to know if other types of fish have evolved the same behaviour ? and as to how the very behaviour itself came about..........

As a firm believer  of empirical study I spent a few hours today chasing some  frozen fish fingers around my bath.....not one of them displayed this evading technique !!...
[]

Ah I see the problem... you see these fish are known in warmer climates, so to be true to the experiment I would suggest frying your fish fingers first and as soon as they are 'done' lift them out with your fingers.

This human contact will induce the fish fingers to choose a flight response and you will see them effortlessly glide across your kitchen.

To provide a proper case study I would suggest performing this with 10  fish fingers and then let us know what the resulting ratio was of those that did glide and of those that didn't.

We look forward to seeing your stats! [][8D]

[neilep (OP)]

quote:
Ah I see the problem... you see these fish are known in warmer climates, so to be true to the experiment I would suggest frying your fish fingers first and as soon as they are 'done' lift them out with your fingers.

This human contact will induce the fish fingers to choose a flight response and you will see them effortlessly glide across your kitchen.

To provide a proper case study I would suggest performing this with 10  fish fingers and then let us know what the resulting ratio was of those that did glide and of those that didn't.

We look forward to seeing your stats! [][8D]

I did as you say and though they still did not jump out of my hands,(one of them actually protested !!).....however.... they have at least become very good typists as they are now using my keyboard as I dictate this.......which is nice !!....cos I burnt my fingies when I lifted them out the pan..... [][][]

'Men are the same as women...just inside out !'

[Ray hinton]

CHESIL BEACH,DORSET,ENGLAND 5 am on a calm summer morning,suddenly the sea boils with white-bait(herring fry)chased by shoals of mackerel,they jump onto the beach by the thousands,same behavior as the tropical flying fish.they just have to get away from the jaws of death.strait into the beak of death,the seagulls have just got back from the dump!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

every village has one !