Page 156 - An Anthology of Intriguing Animals (DK)

Flying fish

E veryone knows fish can’t fly, but that’s actually not quite true.

If you’re lucky, in some parts of the world you might see flying

fish skimming just above the waves, their silvery blue bodies glittering
in the sun. They wiggle their tail quickly to propel themselves into the

air and then open their winglike fins to glide. They don’t do this for
fun, but to escape danger below the surface, such as being

chased by hungry dolphins.

The Tao people of Orchid Island in the

Pacific Ocean have festivals dedicated to
these incredible fish. Their calendar even has three

seasons—one for when the flying fish arrive, one
for when they leave, and one for when there

are no fish at all.

Flying fish can glide farther than the length

of three and half football fields before

splashing back into the sea.

154

US_154_155_Flying_Fish.indd 154 01/05/2018 12:43