African flyingfish facts for kids
Quick facts for kids African flyingfish |
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The blacksail flyingfish is a cool fish known for its amazing ability to "fly" or glide above the water! Its scientific name is Cheilopogon nigricans. People also call it the African flyingfish or leaping flyingfish.
This fish belongs to a special group called flying fish (the Exocoetidae family). It lives in the ocean and travels long distances. The blacksail flyingfish eats tiny ocean creatures called plankton. It is also caught and sold by people, making it a valuable fish.
About the Blacksail Flyingfish
Like other flyingfish, the blacksail flyingfish has a body shaped like a tube. It has very large fins on its sides (called pectoral fins) and on its belly (called pelvic fins). These big fins help it glide through the air over the water.
What Does It Look Like?
Most adult blacksail flyingfish are about 28 centimeters long. That's roughly the length of a school ruler! Their backs are a dark, shiny blue color. This blue color can look like a rainbow in the light. Their bellies are silvery white.
The fins are a key way to spot this fish. Its large side fins are black with a yellow stripe in the middle. The fins on its belly have a clear black spot. This spot helps scientists tell it apart from other flyingfish. Young blacksail flyingfish look a bit different. They have dark stripes on their bodies.
Where Does It Live?
The blacksail flyingfish lives in warm, tropical waters around the world. You can find it in parts of the Indian Ocean, the Pacific Ocean, and the Atlantic Ocean.
It swims near the coasts of many countries, including:
- Brazil
- South Africa
- Madagascar
- Sri Lanka
- India
- Pakistan
- Bangladesh
- Indonesia (like Sumatra and Borneo)
- Japan
- Taiwan
- Fiji
- Australia
See also
- List of common commercial fish of Sri Lanka
