Flying Fish

Flying fish escape predators by leaving the medium entirely. Their enlarged pectoral fins enable glides of up to 200 meters, remaining airborne for 45 seconds. When a tuna or dolphin attacks from below, the flying fish bursts from the water and glides beyond reach. The predator is left in the water while prey travels through air. This dimension shift provides escape that no amount of underwater swimming could match.

The gliding capability required evolutionary investment - enlarged fins, streamlined body, powerful tail for launch. Flying fish can't fly indefinitely; they must return to water. But the temporary dimension shift creates an escape route unavailable to aquatic-only species. The predator's aquatic superiority becomes irrelevant when prey exits to a dimension the predator cannot access.

For business, flying fish represent strategies that exit the competitive dimension entirely. When Blockbuster dominated video retail, Netflix exited to mail/streaming. When taxis dominated urban transport, Uber exited to smartphone apps. Dimension-shifting escape means competing in a space where established predators cannot follow. The fish can't stay airborne forever - eventually it must return to water - but the temporary shift creates breathing room that linear competition could never provide.