FishBase lists 75 species in the flying-fish family Exocoetidae, according to its live family listing accessed in 2026. The figure is a database count attributed by FishBase to Eschmeyer’s Catalog of Fishes, not a permanent total.
What does the count include?
Flying fish belong to the family Exocoetidae, within the order Beloniformes and class Teleostei. FishBase’s family summary reports seven genera and 75 species, and gives the family’s distribution as the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific oceans. FishBase’s Exocoetidae family summary and listing attributes the count to Eschmeyer’s Catalog of Fishes and cautions that FishBase’s own species-and-synonymy list is not an authority for taxonomy or nomenclature.
Why can a species count change?
A count depends on the taxonomic list being used and the date it was consulted. Taxonomists may revise which named forms are treated as accepted species or synonyms. FishBase’s 75 is therefore best read as the count shown by that listing, rather than as an unchanging total or proof that every catalog reports the same number.
What makes a flying fish a flying fish?
Flying fish glide rather than fly under powered flight. Their enlarged pectoral fins act as the main gliding surfaces; some species also have enlarged pelvic fins. The tail is deeply forked, with a longer lower lobe. The Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute describes them emerging quickly from the water and gliding with outstretched pectoral fins for up to 200–300 m. Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute
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