Re: Longest recorded flying fish flight

[Ottawa Paleontological Society <paleo@ncf.ca>]

M.J. Murphy,

> From the footage it appears that the fish is indeed using its pectoral fins
to adjust lift. Does anyone know if the claims that some species beat their 
wings in order to prolong range have any merit, or are they just an illusion 
created by
this action?

In anycase, the manoeuverability and control is quite impressive. One can
definetly see how this would evolve (first as an adaption to jump an extra
couple of centimetres further than the nearest fish and eventually to be
able to choose anywhere within a few hundred metres to land).

By "beating its tail" a normal left to right motion is probably meant (not
like a mammal and especially not like a beaver). Essentially, there is a
position in which the tail is touching the water and it becomes possible for
the fish to start swimming again (in order to further increase forward
speed) but at the same time the fish is able to keep its body clear of the
water (in the relatively lower viscosity of the air).

If anyone knows of more about or has any resources regarding flight control
etc. this is a very interesting animal indeed... (I don't suppose it has
much of a fossil record?)

S!

-JWG

P.S.
Its interesting to note that Grey Squirrels (and probably many other
species) use their limbs for aerobraking. So, clearly there is more than one
way to learn to glide.


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "MICHAEL MURPHY" <4mjmu@rogers.com>
To: <dinosaur@usc.edu>
Sent: Wednesday, May 21, 2008 8:56 PM
Subject: RE: Longest recorded flying fish flight


> Re. the footage.
>  How does the fish's beating its tail against the water's surface help to
> maintain its flight (which is what the stories say is happening)?  Does it
> alter the wing angle so the air-flow sends it into a climb?
>
>  M.J. Murphy