California flying fish
| California flying fish | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Beloniformes |
| Family: | Exocoetidae |
| Genus: | Cheilopogon |
| Species: | |
| Subspecies: | C. p. californicus
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| Trinomial name | |
| Cheilopogon pinnatibarbatus californicus (J. G. Cooper, 1863)
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| Synonyms | |
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Cypselurus californicus | |
The California flying fish, Cheilopogon pinnatibarbatus californicus, is a subspecies of Bennett's flying fish. Prior to the 1970s, the California flying fish was known as a distinct species,[2] with the scientific classification Cypselurus californicus.[3] It may grow up to 19 inches (48 cm) in length and is the largest member of the flying fish family.[4] It is found in the Eastern Pacific Ocean, from Oregon to Baja California. As with all other flying fish, the California can not actually fly, but it can launch itself into the air, using its specially adapted fins to glide along the surface.[2]
Flying fish spend most of their time in the open ocean but come close to shore at night to forage and lay eggs in the protection of kelp beds. The flying fish commonly seen around Catalina, has large scales, a forked tail and grows to 18 inches long. A four-winged flying fish,[4] they glide on extended pectoral fins that resemble wings and keep their bodies aloft until they hit the water with a splash.[5] The length of a flight averages 25 feet (7.62 metres), with a height capping out at approximately 5 feet (1.52 cm).[3] The California flying fish typically makes up to five successive flights of decreasing distance and height at a time.[3]
References
- ^ Collette, B. (2010). "Cheilopogon pinnatibarbatus ssp. californicus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2010. IUCN: e.T184053A8229048. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-3.RLTS.T184053A8229048.en.
- ^ a b http://www.fishbase.org/summary/Cypselurus-californicus.html
- ^ a b c Hubbs, Carl L. (October 15, 1918). "THE FLIGHT OF THE CALIFORNIA FLYING-FISH (CYPSELURUS CALIFORNICUS)" (PDF). www.jstor.org. Retrieved 2021-11-24.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ a b "Flying fish – unusual fish | DinoAnimals.com". dinoanimals.com. 2018-07-09. Retrieved 2021-11-24.
- ^ Sahagún, Louis (September 6, 2015). "After 91 years, flying fish but no plying boat as the Blanche W ends its Catalina Island run". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 18 November 2021.
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