It is known that the seas and oceans abound in beautiful and unique creatures. Each egg, fry, shrimp, crab or a huge individual of the representative of the order of cetaceans play a distinct role in the oceans. Harmony and tranquility rules here, there is no rush and fuss here - each in its own place. And any deviation from a settled life or any innovation is fraught with a change in the whole integrity of ideal coherence and cohesion between water inhabitants. It is worth noting that the smaller the representative of the sea depths, the easier it is for him to adapt to any circumstances. But for those whose dimensions can be described as very impressive, it is quite difficult to accept everything new and unusual.
Today we would like to pay attention to a truly beautiful, unusual and incredibly huge sailing fish, which can rightfully be considered the beauty of tropical seas and oceans. We will try to find out a lot about her: how she looks, her habitat, her usual diet and other equally interesting facts.
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It is impossible to confuse fish that lives in warm seas and oceans with others. A huge sail, blue as the sky, rising above the water and shimmering in the sun at the same time, is the dorsal fin of an ocean handsome man. A sailing fish looks like a frightening giant. A long body is hidden under the water, which reaches a size of 2 m in a one-year-old individual, and up to 3.5 m in a mature one.
By the way, sailboats have been living for about 15 years and are gaining weight and gaining size throughout their lives. The largest individuals ever caught in the waters of the oceans were of advanced age.
The body color of the fish is diverse: the back is blue-black, the sides are brown, and the belly is silver. It is noteworthy that on the sides of adults are longitudinal stripes of dark color.
Distinctive feature
Along the entire back of the fastest sailing fish is a fin, which at first glance seems solid. In fact, there are two fins: the huge decorative first from the head is bluish, the second is a continuation of the first, has a brown tint. A huge fin protruding above the water when the fish is near the surface, helps regulate heat transfer. The sailboat does not have an air bubble to stay afloat, so the fish is constantly moving. It is noteworthy that they can fold the fin, pressing it to the back, thereby increasing their speed under water during the hunt.
A long sharp beak makes this fish an excellent hunter and helps to develop speed. The head of the sailboat is pointed, the upper jaw goes into a long outgrowth. It resembles a cross between marlin and mackerel with a giant mottled fin. By the way, huge sailboats have the same side as a mackerel, a striped side, on which silver stripes alternate with dark ones. Marlin is larger, but belongs to the same family as the deep-sea giant.
For some, an object of admiration, but for others, prey.
We can safely say that a sailing fish is the dream of any fisherman who is passionate about sport fishing. Catching this beauty is considered the highest pleasure of a man whose hobby is fishing for bait. In addition to all, boasting such a giant is absolutely not shameful. Fish is the only representative of the genus Istiophorus, and its distinguishing feature is the high speed of underwater movement.
By the way, a sailing fish is one of the fastest fish in the oceans. It attracts fishermen with its incredible appearance and the fact that it is quite edible. On the coasts of Central America, even sporting tournaments for the fast ocean giant are held. Catching a sailboat is not difficult, it is difficult to pull out. This large, powerful fish, due to its swiftness and speed, is capable, according to the laws of physics, of increasing its weight to 100 kg. Like tuna, sailboats are mined on an industrial scale. In some tropical countries, fishing is only within the sport. After photographing and weighing the fish goes back to the ocean.
Speaking about the representatives of the world association of animal welfare and aesthetes who love to enjoy the beautiful, it can be noted that they prefer to admire the view rather than hunt or eat a deep-sea handsome man.
Where to look for a sailboat?
Speaking about where the sailing fish lives and what it eats, it can be noted that it prefers the habitat to be the seas and oceans located closer to the tropics: the Pacific and Indian waters, the Red Sea. Such fish are found even in the Black Sea. It is noteworthy that in winter or during a period of significant decrease in temperature, sailboats migrate closer to the equator. They are quite easy to see, because above the water there is a distinctly visible blue leathery wing, which resembles a sail. This is a simple secret, revealing the secret of the name of the fish. It is worth saying that the coat of arms of Seychelles is decorated with sailing fish. Two fishes flaunt along with a turtle and a tropical seagull called the red-billed phaeton.
Daily diet
Sailboats are predators by nature. They prey on medium-sized fish, including mackerel, sardines, and even mollusks. Sailing fish, photos of which are presented in the article, are not loners. They prefer to hunt in small groups, pursuing prey. Hunting is carried out according to a certain scheme: sailboats surround a flock of small fish and attack in turn, not allowing the school to disperse. So the giants of the ocean can get enough of it.
Transformation
During the hunt, the color of the fish becomes brighter and reveals in its entirety. The skin casts red at the abdomen, the stripes on the sides enhance the color, and the silvery sides begin to cast with a golden hue, red and purple. The beauty of the colors of the sailboat in its natural habitat is comparable to the outfits of the brightest tropical fish. Everyone could watch an aquarium fish-rooster native to the Indian Ocean with stunning fins and a colorful tail. The sailboat is of the same beauty, but its dimensions are much larger. By the way, it is generally accepted that fish with bright scales are unsuitable for food, because they are basically poisonous. This conclusion does not apply to sailing fish. They can be safely eaten.
What is the speed of a sailing fish?
The record of 100 km / h, recorded by experts, amazes even the most sophisticated skeptics. To date, the only champion with an unsurpassed result in speed is a sailing fish. Speed was measured in a fishing camp on purpose. Before that, engineers theoretically studied the ability of a sailboat to move so fast, and the fish clearly demonstrated the unsurpassed ability to use the smallest swirls of water in order to reduce the resistance of the stream. From overheating during such intense physical work, the fish is saved by the fin raised above the surface of the water - with it it is cooled. The fastest sailing fish picks up speed with fast tail movements. This engineering solution created by nature makes it invincible in agility in tropical waters.
Breeding
Sailboats can not be called an endangered species, on the contrary, they breed quickly enough and are rapidly developing. Despite the fact that many fishing vessels prey on them , nothing threatens the biological species. During the spawning period, which usually occurs in August or September, the female is able to lay up to 5 million eggs. By the way, large fish of this family do not care about offspring at all, leaving eggs immediately after the natural process of spawning. Many fry die, becoming fish prey, but a huge number of babies survive, quickly gaining weight and acquiring the appearance of an underwater monster that can frighten, and not become prey.