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Exocoetidae is a family of marine fish known for their ability to leap out of the water and glide through the air using enlarged fins, a behavior that helps them escape predators. These fish, commonly called flying fish, are found in oceans around the world and are notable examples of how animals adapt to survive in their environments.
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The Exocoetidae are a family of saltwater ray-finned fish in the order Beloniformes, known colloquially as flying fish or flying cod, with about 64 species in seven genera. While they do not "fly" in the same way a bird does, flying fish can make powerful leaps out of the water where their long, wing-like paired fins act as aerofoils to generate lift and enable prolonged gliding for considerable distances above the water surface. The main reason for this behavior is thought to be to escape from underwater predators, which include swordfish, mackerel, tuna, and marlin, among others, though their periods of flight expose them to attack by aerial predators such as frigatebirds.
Barbados is known as "the land of the flying fish" and the fish is one of the national symbols of the country. The French Exocet anti-ship missile is also named after them, as the missile can be launched from underwater, and take a low, sea-skimming trajectory before striking the targets.