Flying
See also: flying fish and flying and gliding animalsThe transition of predominantly swimming locomotion directly to flight has evolved in a single family of marine fish called Exocoetidae. Flying fish are not true fliers in the sense that they do not execute powered flight. Instead, these species glide directly over the surface of the ocean water without ever flapping their "wings." Flying fish have evolved abnormally large pectoral fins that act as airfoils and provide lift when the fish launches itself out of the water. Additional forward thrust and steering forces are created by dipping the hypocaudal (i.e. bottom) lobe of their caudal fin into the water and vibrating it very quickly, in contrast to diving birds in which these forces are produced by the same locomotor module used for propulsion. Of the 64 extant species of flying fish, only two distinct body plans exist, each of which optimizes two different behaviors.
Read more about this topic: Fish Locomotion
Famous quotes containing the word flying:
“Awake! the land is scattered with light, and see,
Uncanopied sleep is flying from field and tree:”
—Robert Bridges (1844–1930)
“In song and dance man expresses himself as a member of a higher community: he has forgotten how to walk and speak and is on the way toward flying up into the air, dancing.”
—Friedrich Nietzsche (1844–1900)
“Years in wingspans go
Across and over our heads. Watch them:
They are flying east. They are flying to the ebb
Of dark.”
—Philip Larkin (1922–1986)