The Exocoetidae are a family of marine fish known as flying fish or flying cod. About 64 species are grouped in seven to nine genera. While they cannot fly in the same way a bird does, flying fish can make powerful, self-propelled leaps out of the water where their long wing-like fins enable gliding for considerable distances above the water’s surface. It is believed that these fish fly to escape predators such as swordfish, mackerel, tuna, and marlin, and other sea creatures. Unfortunately, when they are out of the water too long, they become a target for avian predators such as frigate birds and other birds found on the water.  

Flying fish feeds primarily on zooplankton, but have been found to eat fish scales and Sargassum as well.