Flying fish

   Flying fish is any of a group of marine fishes with large winglike fins that enable them to glide above the water. There are both two-winged and four-winged flying fishes. In the two-winged fishes the fins behind; the gills are greatly enlarged. In the four-winged fishes both the fins behind the gills and a pair of fins on the belly are enlarged. By rapidly moving their strong tail back and forth in the water and aiming for the surface, flying fish can leap into the air. Once in the air the fish are held aloft by their winglike fins. A flying fish can glide as far as 400 yards or more at a speed averaging 35 miles an hour.
   The flying fish has large soft scales. It has a silver belly, and the rest of the body is green or blue. It feeds on tiny sea animals and lays round eggs in long thin streamers, which are attached to seaweed. Flying fish are eaten by tuna and other large fishes. They are also used as bait in commercial and large game fishing, and in many areas they are sold for human food.
   The largest flying fish is the 18-inch-long California flying fish (Cypselurus californicus), which is found off the coast of southern California. Other well-known-species are the tropical fish (Exocoetus volitans) which inhabits all warm waters, and the Atlantic flying fish (C. heterurus), which lives on both sides the Atlantic Ocean.