Australasian Flying Fish

Description:

Medium sized flying fish 25-30cm long. Dark blue on dorsal surface and silvery on ventral. Pectoral and pelvic fins greatly enlarged and spread when fish is in flight. A relatively small head and large eyes. The bottom lobe of the tail is also slightly enlarged.

Habitat:

Surface waters around Australia and northern New Zealand. This one spotted off the New Zealand coast in deep water. They swim on the surface and when alarmed launch themselves into the air using their tail as a paddle.

Notes:

Melanocercus is a sub species. The main group are often called Bennetts Flying Fish or Small-headed Flying Fish and are found world wide in tropical, sub tropical and warmer temperate seas under various local subs. The amazing thing is watching these small fish travel in excess of 50m at times gliding across the sea surface.