Exocoetidae

E249208

Exocoetidae is the family of marine ray-finned fishes commonly known as flying fishes, famous for their enlarged pectoral fins that allow them to glide above the water’s surface.

All labels observed (2)

Label Occurrences
Exocoetidae canonical 3
Exocoetus 1

How this entity was disambiguated

Statements (49)

Predicate Object
instanceOf fish family
ray-finned fish family
taxon
activityPattern mostly nocturnal feeding
bodyShape fusiform
characteristic ability to glide above water surface
enlarged pectoral fins
class Actinopterygii
commercialUse used as bait in fisheries
used as food fish in some regions
commonName flying fishes
contains Cheilopogon
Cypselurus
Exocoetidae self-linksurface differs
surface form: Exocoetus

Fodiator
Hirundichthys
Oxyporhamphus
Hirundichthys
surface form: Parexocoetus

Prognichthys
culturalSignificance featured in maritime folklore
defenseMechanism escaping predators by gliding above water
diet plankton
small fish
small marine invertebrates
distribution subtropical oceans
tropical oceans
warm temperate oceans
ecologicalRole prey for larger pelagic predators
eggLayingBehavior eggs attached to floating objects
environment pelagic zone
finSpecialization pectoral fins act as wings during gliding
finType ray-finned
habitat marine environment
open ocean
kingdom Animalia
locomotion gliding
swimming
notableAdaptation elongated lower caudal fin lobe in many species
streamlined body for gliding
notableBehavior multiple successive glides above water surface
numberOfGenera about 7 to 9
numberOfSpecies more than 60
order Beloniformes
phylum Chordata
reproduction oviparous
scientificStudyField ichthyology
taxonRank family
usesMedium air for gliding
water for swimming

How these facts were elicited

Referenced by (4)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

Beloniformes includesFamily Exocoetidae
Belonidae relatedTo Exocoetidae
Exocoetidae contains Exocoetidae self-linksurface differs
this entity surface form: Exocoetus
Hemiramphidae relatedTo Exocoetidae