The halfbeak fish, commonly found in the Pacific, Indian, and seas near China, is a small species, with adults reaching a maximum length of 45 cm. Its body resembles a long shuttle used for weaving, with a pair of pectoral fins like bird wings, two-thirds the length of its body, and smaller pelvic fins. Its pectoral and caudal fins are asymmetrically split.

Although there are many varieties of halfbeak fish, they primarily feed on tiny plankton.
There is a significant difference between the “flight” of the halfbeak and that of birds; more accurately, it is a “glide.” The halfbeak’s pectoral fins are highly developed and can extend up to its tail. Coupled with its streamlined body, it can achieve forward speeds of 10 meters per second in the water and up to 18 meters per second, giving it remarkable propulsion.

The immense force created by its movement propels the halfbeak into the air, and it can glide for 200 to 400 meters at a height of four to five meters above the water surface. Of course, the halfbeak does not primarily “fly” as its life is aquatic, but this ability is crucial for evading predators.

An impressive spectacle occurs annually during the breeding season when schools of halfbeak fish take to the air in unison. They leap out of the water and glide in undulating waves, resembling silver waves in the ocean. With favorable winds, they can glide as far as 1,000 meters. However, in calm or unfavorable conditions, their gliding distance is limited to about 200 meters.